Ask Dr. Christensen: Are allografts better than alloplasts for socket grafting?

In this week's video, Dr. Christensen says that if you aren’t socket grafting in your dental practice, you should be. The space left by a missing tooth, particularly in the smile area, can lead to the bone shrinking back as much as 60%, which will leave poor bone for a subsequent implant.

He explains that allograft is a human cadaver bone, while alloplast is synthetic material. Most dentists who are grafting use both. Using allografts has been well proven, and he discusses a popular brand, but says there is still some shrinkage.

Dr. Christensen then discusses a popular brand of alloplast. This material has also been popular for over 20 years, and when done correctly, there is almost no reduction in bone after it heals. But you must still wait nearly a year before you can place an implant.

There are advantages and disadvantages to both allograft and alloplast, as Dr. Christensen explains in this week's video. To learn more about allografts vs. alloplasts, watch the video.

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