Metallurgical and Materials Data

The first dental prosthesis, which was a hybrid material from a cow's tooth connected to an Au wire, is attributed to the Etruscan civilization around 2600 years ago. It was used to replace upper incisors by connecting them to adjacent teeth with Au wire.

The intensive development of biomaterials began in the 60s of the last centuries, with the founding of the American and European Societies for Biomaterials. They accepted the definition of biomaterials, which states that these are materials intended to replace a part or the entire organ in a living organism. The very definition dictates the challenge that knowledge from other scientific fields can be transferred to completely new possibilities of biomaterials, especially in the part of demanding applications. In the 21st century, biomaterials have become a fundamental subject in academic, specialist, and doctoral studies.

In the current edition of Metallurgical and Materials Data, the goal is to show advanced biomaterials that, with an understanding of functional properties, are used for very demanding applications, if harmony is achieved in their interaction with tissue. This means that the biomaterial is a systematically and pharmacologically inert substance, designed for implantation inside or for inclusion in living systems.

Guest Editor,

Prof. Dr. Rebeka Rudolf