Alveolar ridge augmentation: comparison of two socket graft materials in implant cases.

With the variety of bone grafting materials available and their use around both natural teeth and dental implants, clinicians need to understand not only basic bone biology but also characteristics of different bone grafting materials to make a proper choice when selecting a material for alveolar bone augmentation and implant treatment. The grafting materials used in the maxillofacial region include autogenous bone, allografts, xenografts, alloplastic or synthetic products, and composite grafts (combination of different materials). This case report describes two frequenly used bone graft materials for socket preservation immediately after extraction: Puros® (Zimmer Dental Inc, www.zimmerdental.com) (allogeneic) and Bio-Oss®(Osteohealth Co, www.osteohealth.comwww.osteohealth.com) (xenogeneic). In the case presented, the authors perform biologic, clinical, radiologic, and histologic analysis of the two grafting materials by placing them side-by-side in the same patient during implant reconstruction. Implant-related phases of bone augmentation are proposed, and an overview of bone grafting materials, specifically Bio-Oss and Puros, is presented.