Histological evaluation of fresh frozen bone integration at different experimental times

The impact of alloplast and allograft on bone homeostasis: Orthodontic tooth movement into regenerated bone

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study is to examine bone healing following augmentation with allograft or β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) and evaluate orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) into the augmented sites.

METHODS

The study included two parts. Part I included the alveolar bone regeneration model. Osseous defects were created by extraction of the maxillary first molars in C57BL/6 mice, and the sockets were filled with allograft, β-TCP, or left unfilled (n = 6/group). Mouse allograft was prepared by a novel method using long bones. Maxillae were collected at 2, 4, and 6 weeks for microcomputed tomography (μCT) and histological analysis. In Part II, OTM was performed after full bone healing, through grafted and unfilled sockets (n = 10/group), and the second molar shift was assessed using μCT.

RESULTS

Bone volume and trabeculation were reduced in β-TCP compared with allograft and non-grafted groups at 2 and 4 weeks post-grafting, but similar at 6 weeks. Graft particles could be detected at 2 weeks post-grafting for β-TCP, and at 2 and 4 weeks for allograft. Increased osteoclasts' presence was observed in the β-TCP group at 2 and 4 weeks compared with allograft and control. OTM was similar in the two graft groups, but impaired versus the non-grafted controls.

CONCLUSION

β-TCP and allograft induce full normal healing but alter OTM into the regenerated sites.

Fresh-frozen homologous bone in sinus lifting: histological and radiological analysis

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to evaluate radiological and histological characteristics of fresh-frozen homologous bone as grafting material for maxillary sinus floor augmentation. Radiological, histological and clinical evaluations were made.

METHODS

Twenty-three patients with a 2 mm to 6 mm alveolar ridge height in the posterior maxilla have been enrolled. Unilateral or bilateral sinus floor augmentations were performed with fresh frozen morcelized homologous bone. Together with implant placement, 7 months after surgery, a bone core was harvested for histological analysis. Radiological measurements were obtained by superimposition of CT scans carried out at the surgery time and six months later. A total of 93 implants were positioned.

RESULTS

A mean (±SD) increase in mineralized tissue height of 10.74±2.82 mm was noticed by comparing the CT scans. Histological analysis revealed the presence of newly formed bone in the grafted sites. The follow up period after the prosthetic load ranged from 8 to 31 months. One implant failure occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

Fresh frozen homologous bone seems to have a good healing pattern and to be a successful and steady grafting material for the treatment of maxillary ridge atrophy. It might be considered a valid alternative to autologous bone in sinus floor augmentation procedures.

Biologic and clinical aspects of integration of different bone substitutes in oral surgery: a literature review

Many bone substitutes have been proposed for bone regeneration, and researchers have focused on the interactions occurring between grafts and host tissue, as the biologic response of host tissue is related to the origin of the biomaterial. Bone substitutes used in oral and maxillofacial surgery could be categorized according to their biologic origin and source as autologous bone graft when obtained from the same individual receiving the graft; homologous bone graft, or allograft, when harvested from an individual other than the one receiving the graft; animal-derived heterologous bone graft, or xenograft, when derived from a species other than human; and alloplastic graft, made of bone substitute of synthetic origin. The aim of this review is to describe the most commonly used bone substitutes, according to their origin, and to focus on the biologic events that ultimately lead to the integration of a biomaterial with the host tissue.