Filling bone defects with β-TCP in maxillofacial surgery: A review

Reconstruction of bone defects prior to implant placement now involves synthetic substitutes such as β-TCP because of its ability to promote bone remodeling. Its capacity to be progressively substituted by the patient's bone allows to regenerate a dense bone volume. In addition, its availability in large quantities, avoiding the morbidity observed with harvesting autogenous bone, widens the operative indications. In this paper, the main indications of β-TCP in maxillofacial surgery (dentistry, parodontology and dental implant surgery) are reviewed. They include periodontal bone disease, bone disjunction, pre-implant surgery (sinus floor elevation and lateralization of the inferior alveolar nerve).