1.10 Bioactive Glass-Ceramics

The processing route and synthesis of glass-ceramics are briefly reviewed including crystal nucleation and crystal growth. This is followed by a review of apatite-based glass-ceramics. The apatite–wollastonite (AW) system is reviewed in terms of its crystallization behavior, physical and mechanical properties, and biological behavior. Subsequently, other types of apatite glass-ceramics are reviewed including apatite–mullite (AM) glass-ceramics, which has good mechanical properties like the AW glass-ceramics and can be cast to shape. Also, advances in bioactive glass-ceramics based on 45S5 Bioglass and other silicate compositions are discussed.