Freeze-dried bone allografts in periodontal reconstructive surgery

Abstract

The objectives of a bone graft are reversal of the disease process, probing depth reduction, clinical attachment gain, clinical repair of lost bone, and histologic reconstruction of the attachment apparatus consisting of new bone, cementum, and periodontal ligament in an area previously exposed to bacterial plaque. The article discusses the current clinical and histologic state-of-the-art with regard to undermineralized freeze-dried bone allograft and demineralized freeze-dried bone allograft. Specific conclusions about the use of freeze-dried bone allograft are listed.