MERIDIAN® Ceramic Implant
Updated: Sep 28
Understanding the Biocompatibility of a BIOVERIT®-Based Bioactive
Glass Ceramic
What is the MERIDIAN® ceramic implant made of, how does a bioactive glass-ceramic interact with bone, and what does “biocompatible” actually mean?
The choice of implant material is becoming increasingly important in modern implant dentistry.
While titanium and zirconia are widely known, another group of biomaterials has a long scientific history in medicine: bioactive glass-ceramics.
The MERIDIAN® Implant System uses BIO-X, a ceramic material based on a modified BIOVERIT® I bioactive glass-ceramic concept.
Unlike conventional zirconia ceramics, bioactive glass-ceramics are designed not only as structural materials but also to interact with their biological environment.
This article answers the most important questions about the material, its biocompatibility, bioactivity and interaction with bone.
What is the MERIDIAN® Implant?
MERIDIAN® is a ceramic dental implant system manufactured from BIO-X bioactive glass-ceramic, a material concept derived from BIOVERIT® I.
The important distinction is:
MERIDIAN® is not a conventional zirconia implant.
Its material belongs to the family of bioactive glass-ceramics, which combine a glass phase with crystalline ceramic phases.
BIOVERIT®-type materials were developed specifically for biomedical applications and have historically been investigated in orthopaedics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, otology and dentistry.
Scientific literature describing BIOVERIT® dates back several decades.
A publication from 1990 already reported the use of individually manufactured endosseous dental implants made from BIOVERIT® glass-ceramic and described the material as biocompatible and bioactive. (PubMed)
What is BIOVERIT® I?
BIOVERIT® I is a machinable, bioactive glass-ceramic.
Its microstructure contains both glassy and crystalline components. Scientific descriptions of BIOVERIT® I identify fluorapatite and mica-type crystalline phases within the
glass-ceramic structure. (Frontiers)
The mica component contributes to machinability, while the apatite-containing phase is particularly interesting from a biological perspective.
This combination distinguishes BIOVERIT®-type materials from many conventional structural ceramics.
Is a bioactive implant the same as a biodegradable implant?
No.
The terms bioactive and biodegradable describe different material properties.
A bioactive material can interact chemically with its environment and develop a biologically relevant surface without necessarily being rapidly degraded or resorbed.
BIOVERIT® I is a glass-ceramic rather than a rapidly resorbable bone substitute.
The exact surface reactions, dissolution behaviour and long-term stability depend strongly on material composition, crystallinity, manufacturing process and clinical environment.
Is MERIDIAN® a zirconia implant?
No.
This is one of the most important distinctions when discussing MERIDIAN®.
Zirconia and bioactive glass-ceramics belong to different ceramic material families.
Zirconia is generally regarded as a comparatively bioinert structural ceramic.
BIO-X, used for the MERIDIAN® Implant System, follows the concept of a bioactive glass-ceramic.
That difference matters because the biological interaction of an implant is influenced not only by its macrogeometry and surface roughness but also by its surface chemistry.
What does biocompatibility actually mean?
Biocompatibility does not simply mean that a material is “natural” or that absolutely nothing is released from it.
A more useful definition is:
Biocompatibility describes the ability of a material to perform its intended function while producing an appropriate biological response in the body.
This includes questions such as:
Does the material cause unacceptable cytotoxicity?
How does surrounding tissue respond?
Does it produce excessive inflammation?
How does its surface interact with cells and extracellular fluids?
Can bone form and remain stable around the material?
Are degradation products or released ions biologically acceptable?
This is why biocompatibility cannot be reduced to the simple statement “metal-free equals biocompatible.”
Can a bioactive glass-ceramic form an apatite-like layer?
Yes, this is one of the characteristic phenomena associated with many bioactive glasses and glass-ceramics.
When appropriate bioactive materials come into contact with physiological fluids, reactions at the surface can lead to the formation of a calcium-phosphate-rich, apatite-like layer.
The ability to form such a layer under defined experimental conditions is frequently used when evaluating the bioactivity of biomaterials. (PubMed)
However, an important distinction must be made:
Apatite formation in laboratory testing does not automatically prove superior clinical implant survival.
Clinical performance depends on many additional factors, including surgical technique, implant geometry, primary stability, bone quality, loading protocol, prosthetic design and patient biology.
Why could apatite formation be relevant to bone?
Natural bone mineral consists largely of calcium-phosphate compounds related to hydroxyapatite.
For this reason, the formation of an apatite-like interface on a biomaterial is considered interesting because it may create a surface chemistry that is favourable for interaction with mineralized tissue.
Reviews of bioactive glass-ceramics describe bone bonding as one of the characteristic biological properties associated with this material family. (PubMed)
The concept is therefore not simply mechanical fixation.
It involves the possibility of a chemical and biological interaction between the implant surface and surrounding tissue.
Does bioactivity mean that bone grows automatically?
No.
Bioactivity should never be interpreted as a guarantee of osseointegration.
Successful implant integration is multifactorial.
It depends on factors including:
bone quality and quantity,
atraumatic surgical technique,
vascularity,
implant stability,
drilling protocol,
implant position,
infection control,
loading,
systemic health,
smoking,
oral hygiene,
prosthetic forces,
and the biological response of the individual patient.
A bioactive material may influence the interface between implant and tissue, but it cannot eliminate biological or surgical risk.
Can someone be allergic to a ceramic implant?
True allergic reactions to ceramic implant materials are considered differently from reactions associated with certain metallic elements, but no implanted biomaterial should be described as universally allergy-free.
Biocompatibility is broader than allergy.
A patient's reaction to an implant can involve immunological, inflammatory, mechanical, bacterial and material-related factors.
Therefore, statements such as “100% allergy-free” should be avoided unless supported by specific clinical evidence for the individual material and patient population.
For patients with a documented history of hypersensitivity or complex systemic reactions, individual medical and dental evaluation remains essential.
What is the difference between biocompatibility and bioactivity?
These terms are often confused.
Biocompatibility means that a material produces an appropriate biological response for its intended medical application.
Bioactivity describes the ability of a material to actively interact with biological tissue or fluids in a way that produces a specific biological response.
A material can therefore be biocompatible without being strongly bioactive.
This distinction is particularly relevant when comparing traditional structural ceramics with bioactive glass-ceramics.
How long have bioactive glass-ceramics been studied?
Bioactive glasses and glass-ceramics are not a new trend.
They have been investigated for several decades in biomedical research.
BIOVERIT®-type materials were described in the scientific literature around the late 1980s and early 1990s for applications involving hard tissue, orthopaedics, stomatology and other surgical fields. (ScienceDirect)
Modern biomaterials research continues to investigate bioactive glasses because of their potential ability to influence mineralization, surface reactions and tissue regeneration. (PubMed)
Were BIOVERIT® dental implants studied historically?
Yes.
A 1990 scientific publication described individually manufactured endosseous dental implants made from BIOVERIT® glass-ceramic and reported initial clinical experience.
The publication characterized BIOVERIT® as a glass-ceramic with biocompatibility, bioactivity and machinability. (PubMed)
This historical use is important because it demonstrates that the idea of using BIOVERIT®-type glass-ceramics in implant dentistry predates the current generation of ceramic implant systems by decades.
It should not, however, be interpreted as proof that historical BIOVERIT® implants and a modern MERIDIAN® implant are identical devices.
Material modification, implant design, production technology and clinical protocols have evolved significantly.
Why is machinability important for a ceramic implant?
Ceramics can be manufactured using different processes.
BIOVERIT® I was specifically developed as a machinable glass-ceramic.
Its mica-containing crystalline microstructure contributes to this property. (Frontiers)
For modern implant manufacturing, machining allows implant geometry to be created with a high degree of control rather than relying exclusively on mould-based manufacturing.
The final mechanical properties of any ceramic implant, however, depend on the complete manufacturing process and not only on the underlying material composition.
Does bioactive glass have antibacterial properties?
Certain bioactive glass compositions have shown antibacterial effects in laboratory studies, often related to ion release and changes in the local chemical environment.
However, this effect varies considerably between compositions.
It would therefore be scientifically inappropriate to claim that every bioactive glass-ceramic implant is inherently antibacterial or that it prevents peri-implantitis unless this has been demonstrated specifically for the finished implant.
Bioactivity and antibacterial activity are two different properties.
Why is the MERIDIAN® material approach different?
The concept behind MERIDIAN® is to combine:
ceramic implantology + bioactive glass-ceramic materials science.
Instead of viewing the implant exclusively as a mechanically anchored foreign body, the material concept focuses attention on the implant–bone interface and the biochemical interactions occurring there.
The central question becomes:
Can an implant surface provide both mechanical stability and a biologically favourable interface?
This is one of the major areas of research in modern biomaterials science.
Frequently Asked Questions About MERIDIAN® and Bioactive Glass-Ceramic Implants
Is MERIDIAN® made from zirconia?
No. MERIDIAN® is based on BIO-X, a modified bioactive glass-ceramic material concept derived from BIOVERIT® I.
What is BIOVERIT® I?
BIOVERIT® I is a machinable bioactive glass-ceramic containing glassy and crystalline phases, including apatite- and mica-related phases.
Is BIOVERIT® biocompatible?
BIOVERIT® materials have been described in scientific literature as biocompatible biomaterials and have historically been investigated for hard-tissue applications. Biocompatibility of a modern finished medical device must nevertheless be established for the specific device and its intended use. (PubMed)
What makes a glass-ceramic bioactive?
Bioactive glass-ceramics can undergo controlled surface reactions in contact with biological fluids. Certain compositions develop a calcium-phosphate or apatite-like layer associated with bone-bonding behaviour. (PubMed)
Does bioactive glass release ions?
Yes. Ion exchange can be part of the mechanism responsible for bioactivity. Ion release should therefore not automatically be interpreted as material degradation or toxicity. Its biological relevance depends on composition, concentration and clinical conditions. (PubMed)
Does bioactivity guarantee osseointegration?
No. Osseointegration depends on the implant, surgical technique, bone, loading conditions, patient biology and many other factors.
Is ceramic automatically more biocompatible than titanium?
No. Biocompatibility must be evaluated for each material and intended clinical application. Titanium has extensive clinical documentation; ceramics represent an alternative material strategy with different chemical and biological properties.
Is MERIDIAN® a metal-free implant?
The implant body is based on a ceramic bioactive glass-ceramic rather than a conventional titanium implant material. Exact composition and device specifications should always be taken from the manufacturer’s current documentation and Instructions for Use.
Can BIOVERIT® interact directly with bone?
BIOVERIT® belongs to a class of glass-ceramics developed for interaction with hard tissue, and scientific literature has described bone bonding and surface activity for BIOVERIT® materials. (ScienceDirect)
Is bioactive glass a new technology?
No. Bioactive glasses and glass-ceramics have been researched for decades. What is new is their continued development, modification and translation into modern dental applications.
Conclusion
The discussion about dental implant materials is evolving.
For decades, implantology focused primarily on achieving sufficient mechanical stability and predictable osseointegration.
Modern biomaterials science asks an additional question:
How does the material itself communicate with the biological environment?
Bioactive glass-ceramics are especially interesting in this context because their surface chemistry can change when exposed to physiological fluids and, depending on their composition, can promote the development of an apatite-like interface.
The BIOVERIT® material family has a documented scientific history extending over several decades, including early investigations in dentistry and endosseous implantation. (PubMed)
The MERIDIAN® Implant System takes this material concept into a modern ceramic implant platform through BIO-X.
Rather than reducing ceramic implantology to the phrase “metal-free dentistry,” the more interesting scientific discussion is therefore about biocompatibility, bioactivity, surface chemistry and the implant–bone interface.
These are precisely the questions that are likely to shape the next generation of dental biomaterials.
Scientific References
Pinkert R. Individually produced open endosseous dental implants made of Bioverit glass ceramic. First report on experiences. Zahn Mund Kieferheilkd Zentralbl. 1990. PMID: 2150258. (PubMed)
Höland W, Vogel W. Development, structure, properties and application of glass-ceramics for medicine. Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids. 1990;123:349–353. (ScienceDirect)
Hench LL et al. / review literature. Bioactive glasses and glass-ceramics: bioactivity and apatite formation at the material surface. (PubMed)
Profeta AC, Prucher GM. Bioactive-glass in periodontal surgery and implant dentistry. Dental Materials Journal. 2015;34(5):559–571. (PubMed)
Montazerian M, Zanotto ED. Bioactive and inert dental glass-ceramics. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A. 2017;105A:619–639. (PubMed)
Wang J, Zhang L, Wang K. Bioactive ceramic-based materials: beneficial properties and potential applications in dental repair and regeneration. Regenerative Medicine. 2024;19(5):257–278. (PubMed)
Current status of bioactive particles in dental materials. Dental Materials. 2026. The review discusses ion release, pH modulation, apatite formation and cellular signalling as key mechanisms relevant to bioactive dental materials. (PubMed)
Medical information notice: This article provides scientific and educational information about biomaterials and does not replace individual diagnosis, medical advice or treatment planning. Clinical use of the MERIDIAN® Implant System must follow its current approved indications, Instructions for Use and applicable regulatory requirements.
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