alloplast
Pronunciation: AL-oh-plast
A synthetic, inorganic bone-graft substitute — such as hydroxyapatite or beta-tricalcium phosphate — used to fill osseous defects at implant sites.
Full Definition
Alloplastic materials are manufactured bone substitutes with no biological origin, used in implant dentistry to provide an osteoconductive framework that guides new bone ingrowth. Common alloplasts include hydroxyapatite (HA), beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP), bioactive glass, and calcium sulphate. Their resorption rates vary widely; β-TCP resorbs faster than HA. Editors must not conflate 'alloplast' with 'allograft' (human-derived) or 'xenograft' (animal-derived), as these are fundamentally different graft categories. The term is written as one unhyphenated word; 'alloplastic graft' is the adjectival form.
Usage
Usage note: One word, no hyphen. Distinguish from allograft (cadaveric human bone) and xenograft (animal bone). Editors should verify the specific synthetic material name alongside this category term.
In Context
- "Beta-tricalcium phosphate, an absorbable alloplast, was selected for its predictable resorption timeline in the socket preservation protocol." — Clinical technique article
- "The table heading 'Allograft' was incorrectly applied to a synthetic calcium phosphate material; the editor amended this to 'Alloplast'." — Manuscript editing note