Annals and Essences of Dentistry
Open Access

Abstract

THE AMNIOTIC MEMBRANE IN ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY - AN OVERVIEW

Sri Sujan S, Kapil Rathore, Padmanabhan, Chitra Chakravarthy, Sanjay Sunder V

The amniotic membrane (AM) is innermost of the three layers forming the fetal membranes. Amniotic membrane have been utilized in medicine from 1910 when it was first used for skin transplantation later it has been used in surgical procedures related to the skin, eyes, and head and neck. The introduction of amniotic membrane in oral and maxillofacial surgery holds great promise however, although it has been shown to be a useful and viable alternative for some conditions, it is currently being used far in excess of its true useful potential. In many clinical situations it offers an alternative to existing management options without any distinct advantage over the others. Further studies will undoubtedly reveal the true potential of the membrane, its mechanism(s) of action, and the effective use of this tissue in oral and maxillofacial surgery. This article reviews the current literature on the applications of amniotic membrane transplantation and its outcome in various oral conditions