Bone Substitute Materials. Current State And A Glimpse Into The Future

Nowadays, bone substitute materials (BSM) play a central role in dental surgery, implantology and periodontology. Depending on the different indications for bone augmentation, the use of autologous bone alone, BSMs as well as the combination of both are evidence-based procedures. In the context of BSMs, human allogenic materials, while being biocompatible, still pose a theoretically minimal risk of HIV, HCV or prion transmission. The use of BSMs in the head and neck region as an alternative to autologous bone has now become so well established that an overview of all commercially available products can be very easily lost. In this continuing medical education article the main classes of BSMs with the individual advantages and disadvantages are presented and the corresponding established products are discussed. Furthermore, the requirements of modern BSMs which are essential for sound bone healing are presented. Finally, this article gives an outlook on future developments of BSMs and presents some solutions for typical still existing problems of currently available BSMs.