Prognostic factors for alveolar regeneration: effect of a space-providing biomaterial on guided tissue regeneration.
OBJECTIVE
There is a limited understanding of the effect of bone biomaterials on the healing potential when used in conjunction with guided tissue regeneration (GTR). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a space-providing coral-derived biomaterial on alveolar bone regeneration in conjunction with GTR.


METHODS
Bilateral, critical-size, 6-mm, supra-alveolar, periodontal defects were created in four young adult Beagle dogs. In a split-mouth design, the animals received an ePTFE device to provide for GTR in contralateral defect sites with or without the coral biomaterial. The animals were euthanized at 4 weeks post surgery. A histometric analysis assessed vertical regeneration of alveolar bone relative to space-provision by the ePTFE device. Because of the correlation of within-dog measurements, a mixed model ANOVA was used to analyze the data.


RESULTS
There was significantly greater mean bone regeneration in sites receiving calcium carbonate coral implant GTR (cGTR) compared to GTR (p < 0.0001). Sites providing larger wound areas exhibited greater bone regeneration compared to sites exhibiting smaller wound areas (p < 0.0001). However, grouping the sites by wound area thresholds showed that bone regeneration was not significantly different in sites receiving cGTR compared to sites receiving GTR alone, irrespective of the size of the wound area (p > 0.5).


CONCLUSIONS
Space-provision has a significant effect on bone regeneration following GTR. The coral biomaterial effectively enhances space-provision, and this appears to be the principal mechanism by which this biomaterial supports bone regeneration rather than postulated osteoconductive properties.
Laboratory for Applied Periodontal and Craniofacial Regeneration, Department of Periodontology, Temple University School of Dentistry, Philadelphia, PA, USA. gpolimeni@hotmail.com
Giuseppe
G
Polimeni
Ki-Tae
KT
Koo
Mohammed
M
Qahash
Andreas V
AV
Xiropaidis
Jasim M
JM
Albandar
Ulf M E
UM
Wikesjö
D020341:Absorbable Implants; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000628:therapy*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001861:Bone Regeneration; D002119:Calcium Carbonate; D004285:Dogs; D005964:Glucosyltransferases; D048091:Guided Tissue Regeneration / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D011379:Prognosis
D008567:Membranes, Artificial; C434403:calcium carbonate Biocoral; D005964:Glucosyltransferases; C430144:glucosyltransferase E; D002119:Calcium Carbonate