Abstract
In situ tissue engineering, like all tissue engineering, must combine cells capable of tissue regeneration with a signal to promote proliferation and differentiation of these cells together with a matrix (scaffold), on to which the tissue can regenerate. This is frequently referred to as the tissue engineering triangle. In the case of bony ridge augmentation, the classic tissue engineering triangle is achieved by combining platelet rich plasma (PRP) (the cells) with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein‐2/ACS (rhBMP‐2/ACS) (the signal) and a crushed cancellous freeze dried allogeneic bone (CCFDAB) (the matrix). Even with this, the host bone within the defect contributes substantially to the osteoprogenitor cells and stem cells in PRP and conversely the cell adhesion molecules in PRP (fibrin, fibronectin, and vitronectin) contribute to the matrix upon which the bone regenerates. In this chapter, we will discuss alveolar bone augmentation (vertical and horizontal) via in situ tissue engineering.