Autogenous Tooth-Derived Grafting for Alveolar Ridge Augmentation

Autogenous tooth-derived grafting harnesses extracted patient teeth as a source of dentin matrix for alveolar ridge augmentation. This approach transforms dentin into a biocompatible scaffold by cleaning, demineralisation and granulation, preserving intrinsic growth factors while eliminating immunogenic components. The resulting material mirrors native bone in structure and composition, offering osteoconductive surfaces that support new bone deposition and potential osteoinductive signals that recruit progenitor cells. By repurposing extracted teeth, this method reduces reliance on secondary donor sites, lowers infection risk and provides a cost-effective, sustainable alternative to traditional autografts or xenografts. Clinically, autogenous tooth grafts are applied in socket preservation following extraction and in lateral or vertical ridge defects to achieve sufficient bone volume for implant osseointegration. Standardised processing devices regulate particle size and demineralisation degree to optimise resorption rates and mechanical stability. Remaining challenges include limited graft volume per patient and variability in dentin quality. Ongoing work explores composite formulations, refined decontamination protocols and bioactive coatings to accelerate healing. Given its adaptability and minimal morbidity, autogenous tooth-derived grafting is poised to advance regenerative strategies in dentistry and maxillofacial surgery worldwide.

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Autogenous Tooth-Derived Grafting for Alveolar Ridge Augmentation publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in autogenous tooth-derived grafting for alveolar ridge augmentation across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Autogenous graft: A bone or dentin transplant harvested from the same patient to eliminate immunological rejection and donor-site morbidity.

Demineralised dentin matrix (DDM): Dentin tissue processed to remove inorganic minerals and expose embedded growth factors, creating a bioactive scaffold.

Osteoconductivity: The capacity of a material to serve as a template for new bone growth along its surface.

Osteoinductivity: The ability to induce differentiation of progenitor cells into bone-forming osteoblasts via biochemical signals.

Alveolar ridge augmentation: Surgical enhancement of the jawbone ridge to restore height and width for optimal implant placement.

References

1. Bone Regeneration Using Dentin Matrix Depends on the Degree of Demineralization and Particle Size. PLOS ONE (2016).
2. Autogenous teeth used for bone grafting: A systematic review. Medicina Oral Patología Oral y Cirugia Bucal (2017).
3. Biomimetic, biodegradable and osteoinductive treated dentin matrix/α-calcium sulphate hemihydrate composite material for bone tissue engineering. Regenerative Biomaterials (2023).
4. Autologous Tooth Graft: Innovative Biomaterial for Bone Regeneration. Tooth Transformer® and the Role of Microbiota in Regenerative Dentistry. A Systematic Review. Journal of Functional Biomaterials (2023).
5. Biological Evaluation of the Osteoinductive Potential of Dry Teeth after Chemical Demineralization Treatment Using the Tooth Transformer Device. Biomolecules (2023).
6. Autogenous Dentin Graft in Bone Defects after Lower Third Molar Extraction: A Split-Mouth Clinical Trial. Materials (2020).