Host: The Japanese Society for Dental Materials and Devices
Due to their good physical (self-hardening, moldable, strength, etc.) and in vivo (biocompatible, osteoconductive, resorbable) properties, calcium phosphate cements (CPCs) and related materials have the potential to replace allografts and eventually autografts for bone defects repair. Currently, several CPCs have been approved for clinical use throughout the world. However, at present time their uses remain largely limited to craniofacial and selected non-load bearing orthopedic applications. Efforts are being made to build into CPC materials those attributes that are of critical importance for various clinical applications. These include (1) a wide range of hardening times and with high washout resistance, (2) a range of in vivo resorption rates, (3) elastomeric qualities that can reduce implant fracture or accommodate inherent micro movements within the bone tissues, (4) macropores of various shapes and pore volumes, (5) significantly greater flexural strengths by fiber reinforcement, (5) inclusion of osteoinductive factors, and (6) premixed cement pastes that are stable in the package and hardens rapidly after delivery to defect site. It is anticipated that further research will lead development of CPC materials with properties that are uniquely suitable for specific clinical applications.
