Bone Allografts In Dentistry: A Review

Abstract

Transplantation of bone allografts is an accepted procedure in dentistry as it is in many surgical specialties. Despite wide acceptance and ready access to a number of bone allografts, there is often insufficient knowledge of the origin of these allografts and the processing methods. This brief review paper summarizes contemporary knowledge of the biologic properties of bone transplants used in dentistry and discusses their safety. It is intended to aid dental practitioners in selecting suitable bone allograft materials for their patients. It does not deal with bone autografts nor does it compare autografts and allografts. Long-term clinical results with allografts processed by different methods are also outside of the scope of this review.