Porous resorbable Ca-P-O glassceramic tooth roots based on calcium bip
hosphate were prepared by loose-powder-sintering then crystallization-
annealing. The glass composition is, by weight, CaO/(CaO + P2O5) = 0.3
3, The sintering behavior of the glass can be described by a conventio
nal viscous flow model. The resultant glassceramic has a pore size of
6 to 36 mu m, depending on starting particle size and sintering temper
ature, while the pore size distribution is independent of sintering ti
me. The flexural strength is 33 to 150 MPa depending mostly on crystal
lization-annealing treatment. The crystalline phases are beta-Ca2P2O7
and CaP2O6. After being implanted into rabbits, these porous implants
show remarkable biocompatibility and induce the ingrowth of new bone w
ithin 30 days. They are partly resorbed after 90 days and replaced by
new bone. In spite of the original small porosity, the ingrowth of blo
od vessels and bone cells is abundantly seen after 90 days, due to enl
arged pores produced by progressive resorption. This glassceramic is a
good candidate for resorbable tooth and bone implants. The loose-powd
er-sintering technique resulting in intricate bulk shapes with control
lable pore size distribution and good machinability as well as adjusta
ble mechanical strength hence is a powerful technique for the preparat
ion of porous glassceramics.