Table 1 Some advantages and disadvantages of the most commonly used three types of bone grafts

Autografts

Optimal osteogenic, osteoinductive, and osteoconductive properties; gold standard for bone grafting; without the risks of immunogenicity and disease transmission

Pain and morbidity in the donor site, limited quantity and availability, need for further surgery, hematoma, infection, the need for general sedation or anesthesia, longer operative time, and blood loss

Allografts

Osteoinductive and osteoconductive properties, without donor site morbidity, possible with local anesthesia, high availability, easy handling

Lack of osteogenic properties, potential antigenic response and disease transmission, variable osteoinductivity, limited supply, loss of biologic and mechanical properties due to its processing, non-availability worldwide due to religious and financial concerns and increased cost

Xenografts

Osteoinductive and osteoconductive properties, low cost, high availability

Lack of osteogenic properties, the risk of immunogenicity and transmission of infectious and zoonotic diseases, poor outcome