β-Tricalcium phosphate as bone substitute material: Properties and clinical applications

Aim: As the scope of implant dentistry widens, hard tissue augmentation is becoming more common. The previous "gold standard" for bone augmentation, autogenous bone, is limited in availability and restricted in harvesting due to increased peri- and postoperative complications. This paper gives guidance to the surgeon about various classes of bone replacement graft substitutes relative to their origin, ability to resorb and their replacement with vital, osseointegratable bone. A synthetic graft, pure phase β-tricalcium phosphate, has been documented in human and animal studies to be resorbed and replaced by vital bone in a 6 to 12-month time period. Conclusion: The cases and literature shown in this paper demonstrate the predictability and effectiveness of this type of graft material in dental implant-related surgical applications.