1. Review current and future macroporous bioceramic scaffolds as bone graft materials.
2. Assess the projected performance of partially stabilized zirconia as dental implant or abutment material. 
3. Be familiar with most relevant methods available to test bioactivity, biocompatibility and phase stability.

The range of applications of bioceramics in dentistry has been steadily expanding for the past four decades.  The introduction of bioactive glasses in the late 1960's prompted intensive research and successful development of bioactive compositions for implant coatings and bone graft materials. Further work is being conducted to refine resorbable macroporous scaffolds that could serve as carriers for growth factors, mesenchymal stem cells or encapsulated drugs  Meanwhile, non resorbable bioceramics, such as partially stabilized zirconia, are pushing the limits of brittle materials to dental abutments and implants.  Latest developments in bioceramic bone substitutes, in shape of porous scaffolds or monolithic implants, will be reviewed. Relevant test methods to assess bioactivity, biocompatibility and phase stability will be presented.

Biosketch:

Isabelle Denry received her DDS and her PhD from the University of Paris, France.  After 20 years at the Ohio State University College of Dentistry, she recently moved to the University of Iowa, where she is a Professor at the Dows Institute for Dental Research and Department of Prosthodontics.  Dr. Denry has written numerous articles on ceramics for dental applications and is a reviewer for many dental and engineering journals.  Her research has been supported by Federal funds for nearly twenty years and she has been granted three US Patents.  Her latest work has extended to the field of biomedical engineering and development of resorbable bioceramics for bone replacement.