In the past people have been undergoing orthodontic treatment using metallic braces. However, today there is advancement in dental sciences, such that ceramic brackets are being utilized, which makes then less visible and cosmetically more suitable. Many people, who have refused to undergo orthodontic treatment due to the perceived metallic smile, now have no reason to object to treatment. These brackets are made of transparent polycrystalline alumina (or TPA), and seem to be as beneficial as metal braces.
The material is almost invisible, non-porous, stable in the oral cavity, resistant to the forces in the mouth and would not stain or discolor with use (The American Ceramic Society, 2007). Ceramic Orthodontic Brackets – Courtesy: http://www. gradyandkastnerorthodontics. com/images/Appliances/ceramic. jpg In the last two decades, there has been an increase in the use of ceramics in the field of implants. Ceramics are more often being utilized as implants to replace teeth, hip, knee, shoulder, spine and other joints of the body.
Ceramic is an inert material, stable in the body, offers great strength and toughness, and wears out at a very slow rate. Newer forms of ceramic are being developed. One new form known as zircornia contains a complex oxide that can be utilized to replace the femoral head in hip replacement surgery. Compared to the alumina implant, zircornia offers twice the strength, and hence the material can be utilized in less bulk and thickness. It can also be utilized in other parts of the body.
As zircornia is inert and stable in the body, it can also be used as outer coverings for pacemakers and endoscopes. In the year 1996, more than 138, 000 hips and 245, 000 knees were replaced with ceramic implants in the US, and by the year 2030, about 248, 000 hips and 454, 000 knees would be replaced (The American Ceramic Society, 2007). Ceramic Implants – Courtesy: http://www. orthosonics. com/images/prods/large/4_1. jpg Ceramic and glass material is also being developed as a material for drug delivery and coating implant material so that they become more biocompatible.
A new age ceramic has been developed known as ‘HAp’ which has a composition similar to bone and behaves like bone in the body. Hence, it would not be discarded by the body. It could serve as a material for coating cardiac stents and other implants. They could also serve to deliver drugs following implantation of the material in the body. The material has survived a lot of testing conducted during manufacture and surgery. They are also resistant to fatigue and stress (The American Ceramic Society, 2007).
Implantable glass and microchips – Courtesy: http://www. stateline. org/live/digitalAssets/9108_RFID. jpg Ceramics and glass material have seemed to have immense benefits in gene transferring technology required during gene therapy. The glass particles seem to be inert and stable and hence can be utilized to transfer genes. Currently, lipid complexes are utilized which do not seem to be as efficient and safe (The American Ceramic Society, 2007).