The Science of Bone Grafting: Biological Mechanisms and Clinical Implications

Bone graft and substitute materials are essential in dentistry for regenerating missing hard tissue structures. However, current materials only meet osteoconductivity criteria and face issues with graft vs. host responses. Advances in tissue engineering have led to new developments, such as ceramic and polymeric-based bone substitutes integrated with growth factors or modified with living osteogenic progenitor cells. This allows for better control and modification of their structure, surface properties, and interaction with other materials or environments. However, the higher costs of these technologies must be considered in comparison to existing osteoconductive implants.