[Calcium phosphate cements in medicine and dentistry--a review of literature].

Calcium phosphates represent the largest group of biominerals in vertebrate animals. They also have many uses in industry, agriculture, medicine and everyday life. The calcium phosphates containing the ionic species HPO4(2-) and PO4(3-) are biologically relevant. In medicine, calcium phosphates have been used for bone regeneration for several decades. The requirement of a mouldable, self-setting material has been fulfilled since the mid-1980s because of the development of calcium phosphate cements. Basically, they consist of a powder (e. g. di-, tri- or tetra-calcium phosphates) that is mixed with a liquid. Their properties depend on kind, amount, and location of each atom within the crystal structure. In dentistry calcium phosphate cements play a secondary role at the moment, although they often have an excellent biocompatibility. This review gives a general idea on development and chemistry of calcium phosphate cements and presents different cement types tested in vitro and in vivo.