Bone-filling materials of natural origin are the most widely used by French dentists: a practice-based study

Objective: This practice-based study explored the use of bone-filling materials (BFMs) among French dental surgeons, focusing on their clinical habits and preferences. BFMs are commonly used in oral surgery to mitigate bone loss following tooth extraction, particularly for alveolar preservation and implantology procedures. Materials: The study adopted a cross-sectional design and collected data through a questionnaire distributed digitally to French dental practitioners. A total of 201 practitioners participated, providing insights into the types of BFMs used and their frequency of application. Results: The results indicated that a significant proportion of dentists prefer BFMs of natural origin, with bone substitutes xenografts being the most commonly used material, followed by collagen sponges and platelet derivatives. The study also highlighted the variability in the use of BFMs depending on the type of surgical intervention, with alveolar preservation and implant placement being the most frequent indications for their use. Over two-thirds of respondents reported charging patients for the placement of BFMs, although pricing strategies varied. Conclusions: This research sheds light on current clinical practices in France, showing that despite the established benefits of autologous grafts, biomaterials of natural origin are more commonly used. The findings underscore the need for further practice-based research to develop standardized guidelines.