Calcium orthophosphates in medicine: from ceramics to calcium phosphate cements

Calcium phosphate (CaP) compounds are becoming of increasingly great import ance in the field of biomaterials and, in particular, as bone substitutes. Recent discoveries have accelerated this process, but have simultaneously r endered the field more complicated for the everyday user. Subtle difference s in composition and structure of CaP compounds may have a profound effect on their in vivo behaviour. Therefore, the main goal of this article is to provide a simple, but comprehensive presentation of CaP compounds. Referenc e is made to the most important commercial products.