Autograft in Dentistry

Autogenous bone graft, or autograft, uses bone harvested from the patient's own body and is considered the gold standard in bone grafting due to its superior biological properties. It is the only graft material that provides all three mechanisms of bone healing: osteogenesis (living bone cells), osteoinduction (growth factors), and osteoconduction (scaffold structure). Intraoral donor sites include the chin (mental symphysis), the ramus (back of the jaw), and the tuberosity (behind the upper molars). These sites provide sufficient bone for small to moderate defects. For larger defects, extraoral sites such as the iliac crest (hip), tibia, or calvarium (skull) may be used, though these require a second surgical site and general anesthesia. The main advantage of autografts is the highest rate of successful bone formation and integration. However, disadvantages include limited available volume, donor site morbidity (pain, swelling, nerve damage risk), and increased surgical time and complexity. For these reasons, many clinicians use autograft mixed with allograft or xenograft materials to increase volume while maintaining biological benefit, a technique known as composite grafting.