Dental News - Biological and physical properties of bone block grafting biomaterials for alveolar ridge augmentation

Drs. Alberto Monje & Hom-Lay Wang

Tue. 4. April 2017

save

Objective: Bone resorption of maxillary ridges is an unavoidable process that occurs after tooth extraction. Many treatment alternatives have been proposed to facilitate implant placement in these scenarios. Drawbacks such as morbidity, cost and excessive resorption owing to the procedure have prompted clinicians to seek biomaterials as an alternative to autogenous bone. The objective of this article was to review the current state of the art by means of the biological and physical properties of biomaterials used for block grafting in atrophic maxillary ridges. Secondly, it was aimed herein at presenting the clinical and histological findings when using these biomaterials.

Materials and methods
An electronic and manual literature search was conducted by two independent reviewers using several databases, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Cochrane Oral Health Group Trials Register databases, for articles written in English up to June 2016. Owing to the heterogeneity of the findings, quantitative assessment could not be conducted. As such, a narrative review was carried out on the biological and physical aspects of biomaterials used for block grafting.

Results
Both allogeneic and xenogeneic block grafts have been developed to overcome deficiencies of autogenous grafts. Allogeneic block grafts have been widely investigated, but there is a lack of long-term follow-up. On the contrary, xenogeneic block grafts have only limited scientific evidence of their suitability for ridge reconstruction.

Conclusion
Allogeneic and xenogeneic bone block grafts represent a promising alternative to autogenous bone for ridge augmentation. Nonetheless, the evidence supporting xenogeneic block graft usage remains minimal; hence, more long-term human studies are needed to validate their effectiveness. In addition, using prefabricated scaffolds impregnated with growth factors provides an interesting field to be further explored.

Editorial note: The full article was published in the 1/2017 issue of the Journal of Oral Science and Rehabilitation. It can be accessed free of charge at www.dtscience.com.

To post a reply please login or register

Individualized CAD/CAM-produced titanium scaffolds for alveolar bone augmentation

Computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technologies may improve application of titanium scaffolds, onlay techniques and guided bone ...

FDA finalises guidance on animal studies for dental bone grafting devices

SILVER SPRING, Md., US: The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has finalised guidance on animal studies for dental bone grafting material devices, aiming...

Digital technologies and biomaterials in customised therapies for bone reconstruction

DUBAI, UAE: Augmentation of an insufficient bone volume is indicated before or in conjunction with implant placement to gain long-term functioning and an ...

3-D alveolar ridge reconstruction in a case with severe bone loss

A high clinical evidence of grafting procedures from extraoral autologeous donor sites like i.e. from the iliac crest in difficult bone loss ...

Vertical ridge augmentation using a customised CAD/CAM titanium mesh

The most important innovation in recent years in the field of guided bone regeneration (GBR) is customised CAD/CAM titanium meshes, which allow for ...

Nobel Biocare’s EuroPerio11 corporate forum: Pioneering advances in soft tissue and bone augmentation

VIENNA, Austria: Nobel Biocare’s corporate forum at EuroPerio11 is set to be a highlight of the congress. Taking place on Friday, 16 May from 12:30 to ...

Guided bone regeneration in smokers - Use of synthetic bone blocks

Bone grafts are used as a filler and scaffold to facilitate bone formation and promote wound healing if necessary. Bone grafting is possible because bone ...

“We should aim to minimise bone augmentation whenever possible”

Ahead of the European Association for Osseointegration (EAO) congress, Dr Giovanni Zucchelli, who is a co-chair of the scientific committee, spoke with ...

Bone augmentation of canine frontal sinuses using a porous α-tricalcium phosphate for implant treatment

Objective: Compared with hydroxyapatite, alpha-tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP) is more biodegradable and shows better integration during physiological ...

Reconstruction of a horizontal ridge defect using the bone lamina technique

In the case presented, the treatment plan was to place a single implant in the aesthetically demanding anterior maxillary region in the place of the left ...

Education

Live webinar
Thu. 2 October 2025
9:00 am EST (New York)