Bone grafts are widely used in the reconstruction of osseous defects in the oral and maxillofacial region. Successful osseointegration of dental implants requires sufficient bone surrounding the implant. Although bone substitutes and augmentation techniques offer viable prognoses for achieving the required amount of hard tissue augmentation, autologous bone is the gold standard with regard to quantity, quality, and an uneventful healing. Autogenous bone grafts are generally obtained from the ilium, the rib, and the calvarium. Alternative sources for local harvesting in the mandible can be evaluated by careful clinical and radiographic examinations of the patient. This article discusses the various sources of grafts and the techniques used to harvest bone.
Published by Elsevier Inc.