Evaluation of bonding of bone to inorganic crystal surfaces.

It is known that bone will adhere strongly to dense hydroxyapatite. Evidence is presented to show that bone will adhere to calcite as well, and a theory is proposed to explain the bonding of bone to both these materials. While primarily of interest as a pedagogical tool for evaluating the bonding of bone to other materials, calcite may also be of clinical use as packing material for orthopaedic or dental defects.