Bone Graft
A biocompatible material transplanted or implanted into a bony defect to promote regeneration or augmentation of lost alveolar bone, classified by donor source as autograft, allograft, xenograft, or alloplast.
Full Definition
In dental research, bone grafts are used in periodontal regeneration, implant site preparation, ridge augmentation, and sinus floor elevation procedures. The four principal categories — autograft (from the same patient), allograft (same species, different individual), xenograft (different species, typically bovine or porcine), and alloplast (synthetic) — carry distinct regulatory, immunological, and clinical significance that authors must specify. Editors must ensure the graft classification is accurate and consistent throughout the manuscript, as these terms are frequently confused or used imprecisely. Study outcome measures typically include histological analysis, radiographic bone fill, and clinical attachment gain.
Usage
Usage note: Editors must verify that graft classification (autograft, allograft, xenograft, or alloplast) is stated explicitly and used consistently. These categories are not interchangeable.
In Context
- "A xenograft (deproteinised bovine bone mineral) was used to fill the three-wall intrabony defect before primary closure." — Surgical procedures section of a regenerative periodontics case series
- "The manuscript incorrectly described the bovine-derived material as an 'autograft'; the editor corrected this to 'xenograft'." — Copy-editing annotation on a dental surgery manuscript