Bioceramics are a class of advanced ceramic materials specifically designed for medical and dental applications. They are characterized by their excellent biocompatibility, meaning they can be placed in contact with living tissues without causing an adverse reaction. Bioceramics can be classified into three main categories: bioinert (maintaining their structure and not reacting with the body, e.g., alumina, zirconia), bioactive (bonding directly with bone, e.g., Bioglass, hydroxyapatite), and resorbable (dissolving over time and being replaced by new tissue, e.g., tricalcium phosphate).
The use of mineral-based materials in medicine has ancient roots, but the modern field of bioceramics began in the late 1960s. A pivotal moment was the discovery of Bioglass by Dr. Larry Hench in 1969. This was the first material that was found to form a chemical bond with living bone. This discovery shifted the paradigm from developing inert materials that the body would tolerate to creating bioactive materials that could actively participate in the healing process.
Bioceramics have become indispensable in modern medicine. They are widely used in orthopedics for bone grafts, joint replacements (especially hip and knee implants), and bone cements. In dentistry, they are used for dental implants, crowns, and root canal fillings. Their high compressive strength, wear resistance, and stability make them ideal for load-bearing applications. Current research focuses on developing nanocomposite bioceramics, 3D printing of custom implants, and using porous bioceramic scaffolds for tissue engineering and targeted drug delivery.