Bone Grafting Terminology

Types of Grafts

• Autograft: Bone taken from your own body, often from the chin, hip, or tibia (shinbone).
• Allograft: Bone taken from a cadaver (deceased donor).
• Xenograft: Bone taken from an animal, usually a cow.
• Alloplast: Synthetic bone graft material made from calcium phosphate or other biocompatible materials.

Reasons for Bone Grafting

• Bone Grafting for Dental Implants: To create a stable foundation for dental implants when there is insufficient jawbone.
• Periodontal Disease: To regenerate bone lost due to gum disease.
• Trauma or Injury: To repair bone defects caused by facial injuries or fractures.
• Cleft Lip and Palate: To repair bone defects in the mouth caused by cleft lip and palate.
• Sinus Lift: To increase bone height in the upper jaw for implant placement.

Grafting Procedures

• Guided Bone Regeneration (GBR): Using a membrane to guide bone growth and prevent soft tissue from interfering with the graft.
• Socket Preservation: Placing bone graft material into a tooth socket after extraction to prevent bone loss.
• Ridge Augmentation: Increasing the width or height of the jawbone to support implants.
• Block Graft: Using a solid piece of bone to fill a larger defect.
• Particulate Graft: Using small particles of bone to fill smaller defects.

Related Terms

• Biocompatibility: The ability of a material to function in the body without causing harm.
• Growth Factors: Proteins that stimulate bone growth and healing.
• Membrane: A barrier used to protect the graft and guide bone regeneration.
• Osseointegration: The process by which bone fuses with an implant.
• Resorption: The breakdown and loss of bone tissue.