A review on application of biomaterials for medical and dental implants

Biological tissues in the body stop functioning normally at certain times due to genetic abnormalities, ageing, sickness, trauma, degeneration or accidents. Over the past few decades, biomaterials have been extensively used in the medical and dental fields. It is used as an alternate for natural bone with inflammation or mechanical integrity. The usages of biomaterials in various applications are implant materials, integral approach to promote healing of tissues, regeneration of tissues, probes and nanoparticles, biosensors and drug delivery system. Significant research and development are still being carried out for orthopaedic implants, dental screws, bone replacement, etc. Materials designed for biomedical applications have gone through three generations, with the first generation being bioinert materials, the second being bioactive and biodegradable materials and the third being molecular responses to materials (tissue level). Biocompatibility (biological and mechanical), corrosion resistance, wear resistance and osseointegration are factors to consider while using biomaterials for longer duration. Metals and their alloys, ceramics, polymers and composites are some bioimplant materials that are being used in the modern world. Some of the most important criteria for the selection or development of new biomaterials are kinds of oxide coatings generated on the surface and the mechanical properties of materials. The article reviews out categories of bioimplants and outlines the properties exhibited by various implant material, biological and mechanical factors favouring material selection, and few challenges shown by the materials.