The production of ceramic and glass materials requires a range of industrial minerals - such as alumina, zircon and silicon carbide -and ceramics are now being widely used in the biomedical sector. Bone implants, replacement joints and drug-administering devices all make use of ceramic materials. In dentistry, ceramics can be used to manufacture teeth to better match a patient's natural smile. The development of new materials is even helping in the fight against cancer - glass beads are used to reduce the symptoms of inoperable liver cancer, for example.
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