Alumina and Zirconia Ceramic for Orthopaedic and Dental Devices

Ceramic materials are made of an inorganic non-metallic oxide. Usually ceramics are divided into two groups: silicon ceramics and aluminous ceramics. Ceramics are also divided into crystalline and non-crystalline depending on inner molecular organization. Depending on their in vivo behaviour, ceramics are classified as bioresorbable, bioreactive or bioinert. Alumina and zirconia are bioinert ceramics; their low reactivity togheter with their good mechanical features (low wear and high stability) led to use them in many biomedical restorative devices. Their most popular application is in arthroprosthetic joints where they have proven to be very effective, that make their use suitable especially in younger, more active patients. Also dental use of these materials was proposed to achieve aesthetic and reliability of dental restorations.