Abstract: The present invention is a method for treating bony defects. The method involves contacting the bony defect with a formable composition and allowing the formable composition to solidify. The formable composition is comprised of 2-40% of reconstituted fibrillar atelopeptide collagen and 60-98% calcium phosphate mineral by weight exclusive of moisture. After the formable composition is placed in intimate contact with the bony defect, it is allowed to solidify until it acquires an additional characteristic selected from the group consisting of a compressive modulus of at 10 N/cm.sup.2 or a tensile strength of at least 1 N/cm.sup.2. The method can be used to repair a variety of bony defects such as bone non-union, fresh fractures, periodontal bony pockets, tooth extraction sockets and jaw cysts. Further, the composition can be used to augment an alveolar ridge.