11 Biomaterials - substitute materials for augmenting the gingiva and bones The term biomaterials covers a wide field of very different materials for various medical applications. In direct contact with the body, they are intended to replace missing "biological tissue" or support its function. Well-known biomaterials include heart valves and arterial replacement. Biomaterials are mainly of animal origin - donors are cattle, pigs or horses. Some practices also use artificially manufactured products or human material. Unlike autologous transplants, biomaterials are available in unlimited quantities. In many cases, their use avoids the need for a second surgical intervention which would have to be performed in parallel either in the mouth or the iliac crest to harvest the graft tissue. Smaller bone defects can be augmented with the patient's own bone, harvested from the surgical site. In addition to bone substitute materials, membranes are used in the surgical procedure to protect the surgical site and support the process of tissue remodeling. Special tissue matrices are used for treating the gingiva. The bone substitute materials from BioHorizons Camlog are either of human or animal origin, or also produced synthetically. The membranes offered are of porcine (pig) or bovine (cattle) origin or synthetic. The materials are manufactured under strict, specified and constantly controlled processes in sterile conditions. To achieve a healthy, strong gingiva and adequate bone volume for an esthetic appearance around teeth or implants, surgery is a good or even necessary option in certain cases.
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