ABSTRACT
Dental biomaterials for restorative dentistry involve all the different types of materials described in Chapter 1: Metallic, ceramic, polymeric, and composite materials, specifically including the following [1]:
• Amalgam alloys for direct fillings • Noble metals and alloys for direct fillings, crowns, bridges, and porcelain
fused to metal restorations
• Base metals and alloys for partial-denture framework, porcelain-metal restorations, crowns and bridges, orthodontic wires and brackets, and implants
• Ceramics for implants, porcelain-metal restorations, crowns, inlays, veneers, cements, and denture teeth
• Composites for replacing missing tooth structure and modifying tooth color and contour
• Polymers for denture bases, plastic teeth, cements, and other applications
Metallic biomaterials have long been applied in dentistry for dental restoration (e.g., fillings) (Figure 1.8a), endodontic implantations (e.g., tooth roots) (Figure 5.1a), and orthodontics (e.g., corrective arch wires) (Figure 5.1b), as listed in Tables 5.1 and 5.2. Specifically, cobalt-based alloys and Ti-6Al-4V/Nb are used to replace tooth roots; stainless steels and NiTi alloys are applied as corrective archwires; HgAgSn amalgam is used for tooth filling, and noble metals are used for tooth crowns or total tooth replacements. A tooth root is subject to compressive loading with little bending stress. Hence, σ-β Ti alloys, which are strong under compressive loading conditions and have an ability to bond with bone, are ideal for use in permanent tooth root implants.
