Theoretical model for bone graft success.

Theoretical assumptions must correlate with clinical efficacy and good surgical outcomes to be of value to clinicians and patients. This article examines several common assumptions regarding the use of bone marrow aspirate to enhance bone grafting procedures. Contrary to these assumptions, evidence-based research suggests the following: (1) No more than 4 mL of bone marrow should be aspirated from a single donor site.

Growth factors and gene expression of stem cells: bone marrow compared with peripheral blood.

Purpose: To evaluate and compare the presence of cytokines and growth factors in both bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood.

Material: Samples of autogenous BM aspirate and peripheral blood (PB) from 7 patients ranging in age from 49 to 80 years were analyzed with real-time polymerase chain reaction technology to identify and compare selected gene expression for specific cytokines and growth factors. The genes selected for analysis included those involved in osteogenesis, hematogenesis, angiogenesis, extracellular matrix molecules, and cell-adhesion molecules.

A new "platinum" standard for bone grafting: autogenous stem cells.

Autogenous bone has long been considered the gold standard of all bone grafting materials. However, complications have been associated with autogenous bone-harvesting procedures. This article suggests that an alternative approach, grafting with autogenous bone marrow aspirate, may become a new platinum standard.

Antral membrane balloon elevation.

Many edentulous posterior maxilla are found to be encumbered by alveolar resorption and increased pneumatization of the sinus. These factors limit the quantity and quality of bone necessary for successful implant placement in these areas. One solution is to use shorter implants, but this often results in an unfavorable crown-root ratio.

Trephine bone core sinus elevation graft.

The sinus cavity often limits the amount of available bone for the placement of implants in the posterior maxilla. The sinus lift operation and graft is a technique that can add grafted bone in excess of 10 to 16 mm through a lateral wall quadrilateral osteotomy. However, when moderate alveolar atrophy is present, an osteotome technique can provide an average bone height in crease of 3.