In most cases, after tooth extraction alveolar bone undergoes remodeling with net bone loss which endangers esthetic reconstruction. The clinical augmentation of bone currently involves the use of autogenous or allogeneic bone grafts and synthetic materials, all of which are associated with constraints. Today, extracted teeth that are carrying bacterial plaques are considered a clinical waste They
are then disposed in medical biohazard bags. Experts estimate that over 20 million teeth are extracted each year in the United States alone. In the past, extracted teeth were sometimes used as auto-transplants and hetero- transplants after cleaning and sterilization procedures. In fact, avulsed teeth are routinely implanted back into their sockets. They undergo ankylosis and their roots become grafts that slowly and gradually are replaced by bone, similar to autologous bone grafts. Even though, most of the tooth structure is composed of dentin, that is similar to cortical bone’s composition, it was not employed routinely as a bone substitute, in humans. Also, dentin particles have the advantage, being cell free mineralized matrix, to maintain mechanical stability, allowing early loading after grafting in fresh sockets and bone defects.
