Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Biomaterial?
Biomaterials are materials that can be placed in specific locations to replace or repair missing tissues. These materials may be synthetic (synthesized in laboratory) or of natural origin (derived from animal tissues), and are able to interact with the human body to achieve their intended clinical purpose.
There is no perfect biomaterial for every application- factors such as biotype, age, hygiene, bone volume, indication and treatment plan have an enormous impact on the way tissues heal. Thus, to achieve optimal results, different biomaterials are required for different applications. OssMed® manufactures an ever-increasing range of cuttingedge, patient-tailored biomaterials to meet all medical needs in bone and tissue regeneration.
What is Bone Grafting?
Bone grafting is a surgical procedure that replaces missing bone (resulting from trauma, disease or congenital conditions) with autogenous bone fragments or bone graft substitutes, such as the ones developed by Ossmed®.
Bone grafting is possible because bone, unlike most other tissues in the human body, has the ability to fully regenerate if provided a matrix into which it can grow. As bone regenerates, it replaces or combines with the graft material, resulting in a fully integrated region of new bone.
Who needs a bone graft?
Bone grafting techniques are used when bone defects are too large to fully regenerate naturally, or there is the need to increase bone volume in a particular area for functional or aesthetic reasons.
Our bone grafting materials are specifically designed to be used in Dentistry, Orthopaedic and Maxillofacial Surgery, whenever bone regeneration procedures are required.
.png)
Example:
Tooth extractions often result in significant bone loss in the area surrounding the tooth socket. To prevent this effect, bone grafting techniques can be used, filling the bone void with a bone graft material. This provides a matrix for new bone to regenerate into and prevents the collapse of the alveolar ridge (which often has aesthetic and functional implications).
If performed correctly, with suitable biomaterials, bone volume is preserved.
Do bone graft materials have risks or adverse effects?
The range of Ossmed® products are produced through strictly controlled and validated processes, from carefully selected raw materials. Risk or serious adverse reactions are extremely unlikely to occur as a direct consequence of the use of our bone graft materials.
After a bone grafting procedure, normal post-surgical related symptoms may occur such as oedema, redness, tenderness, swelling and fluid collection in the intervened area.
What is Ceragraft®?
Ceragraft® is a patented bone graft material, 100% synthetic, consisting solely of elements naturally existing in human bone.
After implantation, Ceragraft® interacts directly with bone biology, being slowly resorbed and eventually fully replaced by new bone.
The working principle of Ceragraft® begins with the adhesion of calcium, phosphate and carbonate ions to the silica gel surface of Ceragraft® granules. This creates a layer composed primarily of hydroxyapatite, with equivalent structure and composition to the mineral phase of human bone. The newly formed hydroxyapatite layer absorbs growth factors, which in turn causes the migration and recruitment of undifferentiated stem cells on the surface of the granule. These cells eventually differentiate into osteogenic cells, particularly osteoblasts, which rapidly proliferate and generate new bone. Following these reactions, the bone regeneration process continues - Ceragraft® granules further degrade as new layers of bone are generated, until eventually they are completely resorbed and replaced by new bone tissue.
What is Biograft®?
Biograft® is a bone graft substitute of biological origin, produced to the highest quality and safety standards from carefully sourced raw materials.
Biograft® provides a highly porous matrix with equivalent structure and chemical composition to the mineral phase of human bone, which is an ideal medium for absorption and attachment of growth factors and osteogenic cells. This results in the generation of new bone, which eventually combines with Biograft® to form a fully integrated region of new bone.
