Compositions, assemblies, and methods applied during or after a dental procedure to ameliorate fluid loss and/or promote healing, using a hydrophilic polymer sponge structure such as chitosan

1. A method comprising:

providing a hydrophilic polymer sponge structure comprising a chitosan biomaterial, wherein said chitosan biomaterial has been freeze-dried and heat compressed to form said hydrophilic sponge structure;

placing said hydrophilic polymer sponge structure in association with tissue or bone in an oral cavity or an anatomic structure adjacent to said oral cavity;

applying pressure to said polymer sponge structure to thereby adhere said polymer sponge structure to said tissue or bone.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the hydrophilic polymer sponge structure has been densified by compression prior to use to a density of between 0.6 to 0.1 g/cm 3 .

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein hydrophilic polymer sponge structure is placed within a tooth extraction socket.

4. A method comprising:

providing a hydrophilic polymer sponge structure comprising a chitosan biomaterial, wherein said chitosan biomaterial has been freeze-dried and heat compressed to form said hydrophilic sponge structure;

performing a surgical procedure including at least one of a tooth extraction, or endodontic surgery, or periodontal surgery, or orthodontic treatment, or orthognathic surgery, or biopsy, or gingival surgery, osseous surgery, scaling or root planning, periodontal maintenance, complete maxillary or mandibular denture, or complete or partial denture adjustment, or denture rebase or reline, or soft tissue surgical extraction, or bony surgical extraction, or installation of an occlusal orthotic device or occlusal guard or occlusal adjustment, or oral surgery involving jaw repair, or bone growth or bone growth promotion, or any other surgical procedure or intervention affecting tissue in the oral cavity, anatomic structures in the oral cavity, or alveolar (jaw) bone;

shaping said hydrophilic polymer structure prior to placement in connection with said surgical procedure;

placing said hydrophilic polymer sponge structure in association with tissue or bone affected by the surgical procedure; and

applying pressure to said polymer sponge structure to thereby adhere said polymer sponge structure to said tissue or bone affected by the surgical procedure.

5. A method comprising

providing a hydrophilic polymer sponge structure comprising a chitosan biomaterial, wherein said chitosan biomaterial has been freeze-dried and heat compressed to form said hydrophilic sponge structure;

treating tissue in the oral cavity or alveolar (jaw) bone as a result of an accident that causes injury or trauma to the tissue or bone,

placing said hydrophilic polymer sponge structure in association with the treated tissue or bone; and

forming a clot with said hydrophilic sponge structure in conjunction with the treated tissue or bone, thereby promoting hemostasis for the treated tissue.

6. A method according to claim 4 or 5 wherein the hydrophilic polymer sponge structure has been densified by compression prior to use to a density of between 0.6 to 0.1 g/cm 3 .