Dentin-Based Graft Materials: Current Approaches And Future Perspectives

Alveolar bone resorption subsequent to tooth extraction constitutes a significant clinical problem, which complicates aesthetic, functional, and prosthetic rehabilitation. Following extraction, the resorption process progresses rapidly, resulting in significant alterations to the dimensions of the alveolar ridge. However, an adequate volume of alveolar bone is essential for effective aesthetic and functional rehabilitation, as well as optimal tooth movement during orthodontic treatment. A plethora of surgical techniques and materials are employed in the augmentation of alveolar bone loss. Although traditional bone grafting materials are used to prevent alveolar bone loss, the ideal graft material is still debated and under investigation due to factors such as biological compatibility, osteogenic potential, and economic factors. In the search for the ideal graft material for alveolar bone augmentation, dentin grafts have become the focus of interest in dental surgical applications due to their advantages such as not causing donor site morbidity and not carrying the risk of infectious diseases. Dentin tissue exhibits both structural and biochemical similarities with bone, containing a high proportion of hydroxyapatite crystals and collagen fibre matrix. The biological compatibility of dentin grafts, their low risk of infection, and the fact that they are obtained from the patient and therefore do not elicit an immune response, make this material particularly valuable in the field of regenerative dentistry. In recent years, dentin-based graft materials, particularly autologous dentin-derived grafts, have emerged as a promising alternative. Dentin grafts have demonstrated osteoconductive and, in some studies, even osteoinductive and osteogenic biological activity, proving effective in preserving extraction sockets and maintaining ridge volume. The objective of this review is to present perspectives on contemporary approaches and future prospects for dentin grafts, which are a modern alternative to platelet-rich fibrin, allografts, xenografts, and autogenous grafts, in tissue regeneration and augmentation.