Calcium Phosphate Materials in Restorative Dentistry: a Review

Abstract

This report deals with some of the calcium phosphate materials which are currently used in preventive and restorative dentistry and other calcium phosphate materials which have potential for dental and medical applications. Such materials include those which form calcium phosphate in situ (e.g., Bioglass ceramics and calcium phosphate cements) and those originating from natural materials (such as corals and bones). The reports on the development and current status of the calcium phosphate ceramics and glass ceramics presented here were based on recent reviews and recent evaluations of clinical studies for the period 1975 to 1986 (Table 3) with humans and with animals when reports on human studies were not yet available. Methods of preparation and relevant physico-chemical properties of some of the calcium phosphate materials were based on data reported in the literature and on other studies by the author. New calcium phosphate materials, e.g., calcium phosphate cements, calcium phosphate-coated implants, calcium phosphate/polymer composites, have also been briefly covered in this report. Based on the information summarized in Tables 1 to 6 and on solicited comments from clinicians and researchers involved with calcium phosphate materials, several areas of basic and clinical research are recommended (Table 7).