Application of bioceramic materials in endodontic therapy: a brief review

Abstract

Bioceramics (BCs) are materials that include vitreous ceramics, zirconia, bioactive glass, alumina, hydroxyapatite, resorbable calcium phosphate (CaP), and other materials. They have been utilized to fill bone defects, as root repair material, apical fill material, perforation sealing, endodontic sealers, and regeneration aids in dentistry. BCs have various advantages over other materials, including biocompatibility, BC nontoxicity, dimensional stability, and, most importantly, bioinertness in endodontic applications. There is a similarity of BC to hydroxyapatite in that they have an intrinsic osteoconductive action and the ability to initiate the regenerative responses in the human body. In endodontics, they can be broadly categorized into CaP, mixtures of calcium silicate and phosphates, hydroxyapatite-based, tricalcium, and calcium silicate-based. This review focuses on an overview of BCs; it furthermore provides a complete overview of individual BC material currently utilized in the fields of endodontics, as well as their features and applications.