Hydroxyapatite
Also known as: HA, calcium phosphate, bone mineral, HA coating
The mineral component of natural bone — used in implant coatings and graft materials.
Hydroxyapatite (HA) is the primary mineral component of natural bone and tooth enamel — a calcium phosphate compound that gives bone its hardness and strength. In implant dentistry it is used in two ways: as a surface coating on implants and as a synthetic bone graft material.
HA implant coatings
Some implant manufacturers apply a thin layer of hydroxyapatite to the surface of titanium implants. The rationale is that bone cells have a natural affinity for HA and may integrate more rapidly with a coated surface. Evidence for improved long-term outcomes is mixed — plain titanium implants with micro-rough surfaces perform excellently without coating.
HA as a graft material
Synthetic hydroxyapatite is used as an alloplastic bone graft material — a fully synthetic option with no risk of disease transmission. It is osteoconductive (provides a scaffold for bone to grow into) but not osteoinductive (does not actively stimulate new bone formation). It resorbs very slowly, which can be an advantage in some situations and a disadvantage in others.
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