Embodiments of the present invention provide an osseointegrative implant and related tools, components and fabrication techniques for surgical bone fixation and dental restoration purposes. In one embodiment an all-ceramic single-stage threaded or press-fit implant is provided having finely detailed surface features formed by ceramic injection molding and/or spark plasma sintering of a powder compact or green body comprising finely powdered zirconia. In another embodiment a two-stage threaded implant is provided having an exterior shell or body formed substantially entirely of ceramic and/or CNT-reinforced ceramic composite material. The implant may include one or more frictionally anisotropic bone-engaging surfaces. In another embodiment a densely sintered ceramic implant is provided wherein, prior to sintering, the porous debound green body is exposed to ions and/or particles of silver, gold, titanium, zirconia, YSZ, α-tricalcium phosphate, hydroxyapatite, carbon, carbon nanotubes, and/or other particles which remain lodged in the implant surface after sintering. Optionally, at least the supragingival portions of an all-ceramic implant are configured to have high translucence in the visible light range. Optionally, at least the bone-engaging portions of an all-ceramic implant are coated with a fused layer of titanium oxide.

A powder injection molding apparatus including an injection unit, mold formed of two mold parts with parting surface between first and second mold part, enclosing in assembled state of mold a mold cavity fluidically connected with injection unit via transfer channel, vibrational energy generator and transducer, and clamping unit designed to retain under the effect of clamping force first and second mold parts in contact with each other. Apparatus is characterized in that first and second mold parts include a first and second retaining hole, respectively, each extending essentially perpendicularly to parting surface and arranged opposite to each other respective to parting surface, clamping unit includes first and second pin each extending essentially perpendicularly to parting surface, wherein first and second pins cooperate in assembled state of mold with retaining portion of first and second retaining holes, respectively, to retain first and second mold parts in contact with each other.

A process for the preparation of a sterilized ceramic body including or essentially consisting of stabilized zirconia of a defined colour, including the steps of: providing a ceramic primary body including or essentially consisting of stabilized zirconia of a first colour A, and sterilizing the primary body using radiation sterilization whereby the primary body undergoes a colour change to a colour B. The process includes the further step of irradiating the sterilized primary body with electromagnetic radiation of at least one wavelength lying in the wavelength band ranging from 150 nm to 700 nm to induce an at least partial reversal of the colour change to obtain a colour C of the sterilized ceramic body, the colour C complying with the following requirements in the CIELAB colour space: L* being from 54 to 95, a* being from −15 to 15 and b* being from −15 to 15.

A medical that is implantable into a human or animal body or being an augmentation device for strengthening human or animal hard tissue for subsequent implantation of a separate implant. The device includes a sheath element suitable of being brought into contact, during a surgical operation, with live hard tissue and/or with hard tissue replacement material. The sheath element has a, for example, generally elongate shape and a longitudinal bore defining a longitudinal opening reaching from a proximal end of the sheath element into a distal direction, and a plurality of holes in a wall of the opening. Further, the device includes a liquefiable element that is insertable or inserted in the longitudinal opening and at least partly liquefiable by the impact of energy impinging from the proximal side.

A bone graft substitute which combines substantially the high mechanical stability of spherical porous granules without the limitation of reduced intergranular space, and a method for manufacturing the bone graft substitute. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the surface of the granules comprises indentations that increases the porosity within the implanted mass significantly and thus provides more space between the granules for tissue ingrowth. The indentations on the granules cause them to have an irregular shape and thus an increase in the intergranular space is achieved, while mechanical stability is maintained. An exemplary method according to the invention includes the steps of manufacturing the granules; mixing the granules with a porogen; pressing the porogen into the surface of at least a portion of the granules; and removing the porogen from the implant mass to form the indentations in the surface where the porogen was pressed into the granules.

A set of components for dental prosthetic restoration includes a ceramic dental implant having an internal connecting receiving space. An internally threaded insert is added into the internal connecting receiving space of the dental implant, and rotatably indexed. It is held by a fixing part forming an axial abutment opposing an extraction of the internally threaded insert out of the inner connection receiving space.

Lithium silicate materials are described which can be easily processed by machining to dental products without undue wear of the tools and which subsequently can be converted into lithium silicate products showing high strength.

Quartz solid solution glass ceramics and precursors thereof are described, which are characterized by very good mechanical and optical properties and in particular can be used as restoration material in dentistry.

A bone graft substitute which combines substantially the high mechanical stability of spherical porous granules without the limitation of reduced intergranular space. The granules have a high porosity whilst maintaining high stability, and can be pushed into a defect without risking significant breakage of the granules and, simultaneously, bone cells can grow into the space between the granules. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the surface of the granules comprises indentations, when viewed from the exterior of the granules. An indentation increases the porosity within the implanted mass significantly and thus provides more space between the granules for tissue ingrowth. Due to the indentations on the granules, the granules have an irregular shape and thus an increase in the intergranular space is achieved, while mechanical stability is maintained. A biocompatible polymer, such as a polypeptide, is disposed about at least some of the granules to form a coating thereon.

A zirconia composition, a zirconia semi-sintered body, a zirconia sintered body, and a dental product are provided. The zirconia sintered body contains 4 mol % to 7 mol % of yttria as stabilizer, and a shielding material. The zirconia sintered body comprises first region and second region having a higher content ratio of the shielding material than the first region. Difference between content ratio of yttria in the first region and that of yttria in the second region is 1 mol % or less.