Systematic analysis on the efficacy of bone enhancement methods used for success in dental implants

Bone grafting is beneficial in enhancing bones that are lost due to trauma or natural or pathologic process. Autogenous bone, allogenic bone, xenogeneic bone, bone substitutes, and alloplasts can also be used for this purpose. Bone quantity should be adequate for the placement of implants, which necessitate the use of bone grafts before implant placement.

This review analyses the different bone graft materials that are used for grafting around implants and evaluate if these grafts yield successful implant osseointegration over a period of time.

The MEDLINE-PubMed database was searched from September 2016 to 10 years previously. Several journals were hand searched and from cross-references. The primary outcome measure that was analyzed was the survival rate of dental implants in the grafted sites at 6 months-1 year, and the secondary outcomes were success rates of dental implants over a period of 3-5 years' follow-up.

The search yielded 213 articles. Ultimately, 31 studies meeting the eligibility criteria were selected. The analysis shows that autologous bone grafts can be preferred over allografts and xenografts for grafting implant sites, which showed less complication and high success rate.

Based on the available data in the current existing studies with a follow-up period of at least 3-5 years, it can be summarized that the autologous bone grafts can be preferred over allografts and xenografts for grafting implant sites since they are stable for at least 3-5 years.