Bone Grafts and Substitutes in Dentistry: A Review of Current Trends and Developments

Abstract

After tooth loss, bone resorption is irreversible, leaving the area without adequate bone volume for successful implant treatment. Bone grafting is the only solution to reverse dental bone loss and is a well-accepted procedure required in one in every four dental implants. Research and development in materials, design and fabrication technologies have expanded over the years to achieve successful and long-lasting dental implants for tooth substitution. This review will critically present the various dental bone graft and substitute materials that have been used to achieve a successful dental implant. The article also reviews the properties of dental bone grafts and various dental bone substitutes that have been studied or are currently available commercially. The various classifications of bone grafts and substitutes, including natural and synthetic materials, are critically presented, and available commercial products in each category are discussed. Different bone substitute materials, including metals, ceramics, polymers, or their combinations, and their chemical, physical, and biocompatibility properties are explored. Limitations of the available materials are presented, and areas which require further research and development are highlighted. Tissue engineering hybrid constructions with enhanced bone regeneration ability, such as cell-based or growth factor-based bone substitutes, are discussed as an emerging area of development.

Synthetic Material for Bone, Periodontal, and Dental Tissue Regeneration: Where Are We Now, and Where Are We Heading Next?

“…Bone substitutes can be categorized into bone grafts (autograft, allograft, xenograft), ceramics/synthetics (hydroxyapatite, tricalcium phosphate, calcium sulphate) and growth factors (human demineralized bone matrix, platelet derivatives, bone morphogenic proteins [ 1 ]. A comprehensive review of commercially available bone grafts has been provided by Zhao et al recently [ 2 ]. The objective of this current review is, therefore, to complement their report with regards to more recent updates on synthetic bone materials.…”

Autologous Platelet Gel (APG): A Preliminary Evaluation of the Mechanical Properties after Activation with Autologous Thrombin and Calcium Chloride

“…In fact, bone defect healing is sustained by several factors such as osteoconduction, growth factors’ local release, osteoprogenitors’ differentiation and proliferation, and the mechanical stability of the regenerative micro-environment [ 12 , 42 ].…”

Influence of HRGO Nanoplatelets on Behaviour and Processing of PMMA Bone Cement for Surgery

“…Next, as shown in Figure 1 , by employing an electromechanical testing machine (Instron 5866), a pressure of 50 kPa [ 25 ] was exerted perpendicular to the mould surface to homogenise the manufacturing conditions of the material and simulate the pressure that bone cement is subjected to through a finger or scalpel in the operating room [ 1 , 2 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ].…”

“…Bone cement, which consists of a broad range of different materials, is commonly used as a structural adhesive to fix replacement prostheses when the bone is damaged [ 1 , 2 ]. It has been used for biomaterial applications since the 1960s [ 3 ], and its central role is to fix implants by mechanical bonding and distribute loads optimally from the prosthesis to the bone.…”