Alveolar Augmentation: Focus on Growth Factors (BMPs)

Abstract

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) play an important role in osteoblast and chondrocyte differentiation and canonical Wnt signaling regulates bone mass. BMP-2 is approved for use in spinal fusions due to degenerative disk disease, and in the treatment of acute open fractures of the tibial shaft. BMP-7 is approved for lum- bar spinal fusion and in the treatment of long bone nonunion fractures. Sclerostin monoclonal antibodies are currently under clinical trials for their application in treating patients with osteoporosis and bone fractures. The roles of BMPs and Wnts in bone and cartilage regeneration have been extensively studied in recent years and the progress in this research area is summarized in this chapter