Horia MANOLEA

Abstract

Dental opportunities for using bioactivated synthetic bone graft materials

Horia Manolea*, Alexandra Drăghici*, Ioana Mitruț*, Radu Slavoiu*, Florian Obadan*, Oana Gingu**, Sanda Mihaela Popescu*, Iulian Vasile Antoniac*** 

*University of Medicine and Pharmacy Craiova

**University of Craiova

*** Politehnica University Bucharest

Bone materials are currently used in dentistry both in periodontology for the treatment of intraosseous and furcation defects, but their use is increasingly common in implantology for volume preservation of post-extraction alveolar processes, guided bone regeneration techniques or elevation of the sinus membranes.

Bone replacement materials play an important role in oral rehabilitation. A wide range of bone augmentation materials have been so far approved for clinical use, but even this wide variability makes it difficult to choose the ideal material for each case.

The integration of a bone graft is conditioned by three distinct processes: osteoinduction, osteoconduction and osteogenic capacities. Depending on the type of graft, these processes may interfere or may not be present one or another. An ideal bone graft has all three of the aforementioned properties, as well as being easy to harvest and available in the desired quantity, with minimal risks for infectious disease transmission and low cost

Composite materials are one of the advanced materials used in various kinds of bioapplications. By definition, they represent a mixture between one continuous component, named “matrix”, and one or more components named “reinforcements”. The choice to select a biocomposite or a biomaterial for a specific application, like bone grafting, is made according to functional, technological and not the least economic reasons. In order to obtain a particular property for a bone substitute material, the matrix and reinforcements are optimally selected from different points of view to fulfil the most efficient ratio between the expected performance and necessary processing costs.

Biocompatibility assessment of bone augmentation materials can be done by several methods, but histological examination remains the main tool that can provide data on the integration of these materials in bone tissue. Studies can be performed on laboratory animals or clinical studies on human subjects. Well-designed observational studies can play a key role in providing a powerful database for the use of bone augmentation materials in a well-documented medical act. 

The last years have represented a period of uninterrupted progress in terms of technological advancements in dentistry and various innovative techniques were introduced. The bone grafting it will also suffer the impact of these changes both through the use of new technologies such as 3D printing and through the creation of new bioactivated materials with superior properties that can be easily generated through these new technologies.