Common implant-related advanced bone grafting complications: classification, etiology, and management.

Bone grafting has become an essential part of implant dentistry. Thanks to the advancement of grafting technology, areas that could only be managed with removable dentures or teeth-supported fixed prostheses can now be successfully treated with implant-supported prosthesis. Nonetheless, the complications associated with bone grafting procedures have slowly emerged to be one of the main challenges to many clinicians. A Medline literature search of articles published from 1984 to 2006 related to advanced bone grafting complications were selected and analyzed. To make it easier to understand, implant-associated bone grafting complications were classified into: socket augmentation related, guided bone regeneration related, onlay grafting (autogenous or allogenic) related, sinus lift related, and others. Etiologies associated with the above complications were categorized into: material related, technique related, anatomical related, patient related, and others. In summary, management of grafting complications requires proper diagnosis of all contributing etiologies and then providing necessary treatments that include nonsurgical pharmacological as well as surgical interventions based upon their clinical implications. Nonetheless, prevention of complication is of the utmost importance.