Novel Methods for Clinical Applications of Bioactive Ceramics

Bioactive ceramics in general have the characteristic of chemically binding to bone in vivo, but they are mechanically weaker than bioinert ceramics. Typical bioactive ceramics include tricalcium phosphate (TCP), calcium hydroxyapatite (HA), Bioglass, Ceravital, and an apatiteand wollastonite-containing glass-ceramic (AWGC). The mechanical strengths and chemical and biological properties in vivo vary considerably for the different materials; furthermore, for clinical applications, methods are required that can accommodate the different natures of the different materials. We have attempted some novel methods for clinical applications, and our results are reported here.