title: Clinical applications of glass-ceramics in dentistry.
abstract: Glass-ceramics featuring special properties can be used as a basis to develop biomaterials. It is generally differentiated between highly durable biomaterials for restorative dental applications and bioactive glass-ceramics for medical use, for example, bone replacements. In detail, this paper presents one biomaterial from each of these two groups of materials. In respect to the restorative dental biomaterials, the authors give an overview of the most important glass-ceramics for clinical applications. Leucite, leucite-apatite, lithium disilicate and apatite containing glass-ceramics represent biomaterials for these applications. In detail, the authors report on nucleation and crystallization mechanisms and properties of leucite-apatite glass-ceramics. The mechanism of apatite nucleation is characterized by a heterogeneous process. Primary crystal phases of alpha - and beta -NaCaPO4 were determined. Rhenanite glass-ceramics represent biomaterials with high surface reactivity in simulated body fluid, SBF, and exhibit reactive behaviour in tests with bone cells. Cell adhesion phenomena and cell growth were observed. Suitable colonization and proliferation and differentiation of cells as a preliminary stage in the development of a material for bone regeneration applications was established. The authors conclude that the processes of heterogeneous nucleation and crystallization are important for controlling the required reactions in both biomaterial groups.
authors.affiliation: Ivoclar Vivadent AG, Schaan, Principality of Liechtenstein. wolfram.hoeland@ivoclarvivadent.com
authors.forename: Wolfram
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Höland
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rheinberger
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Apel
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: van 't Hoen
authors.forename: Marlies
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Höland
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dommann
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Obrecht
authors.forename: Corinna
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mauth
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Graf-Hausner
mesh_terms: D002516:Ceramics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003764:Dental Materials; D005898:Glass; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D003764:Dental Materials; C023506:Glass ceramics