title: Microcomputed tomographic and histologic analysis of animal experimental degree II furcation defects treated with porous titanium granules or deproteinized bovine bone.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Titanium is an interesting material for osseous reconstruction given its thrombogenic properties. The aim of this study is to compare the potential of porous titanium granules (PTGs) with sham and deproteinized bovine bone mineral (DBBM) in the reconstructive treatment of surgically created buccal, degree II furcation defects in mini-pigs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Buccal degree II furcation defects were surgically created in maxillary premolar teeth in adult, female, mini-pigs and filled with PTG or DBBM or were left empty (sham). After 6 weeks of healing, pigs were euthanized. Teeth with defects were excised en bloc and analyzed by microcomputed tomography (microCT) and histology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The histologic analysis showed significantly more vertical bone formation in both PTG and sham groups compared to DBBM-treated defects (P <0.01). The microCT analysis showed significantly more bucco-palatal bone formation in furcations treated with PTG compared to the DBBM and sham (P <0.05). Bucco-palatal cylindrical microCT cores demonstrated a median defect fill of 96.8% for PTG-implanted defects, which was significantly greater than sham (72.2%) and DBBM (62.0%) (P <0.001) treatments. Significantly more regenerated periodontal ligament was seen for sham than DBBM-treated defects (P <0.05). Root resorption lacunae were small and infrequent and did not differ among groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study in mini-pigs suggest that PTG may integrate well in alveolar bone and supports osseous regrowth in degree II furcation defects. Moreover, PTG seems safe to use in close proximity to root surfaces. Clinical studies will be necessary to further explore these experimental animal findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomaterials, Institute of Clinical Odontology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. johancw@odont.uio.no
authors.forename: Johan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Wohlfahrt
authors.forename: Anne M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Aass
authors.forename: Hans J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Rønold
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Heijl
authors.forename: Håvard J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Haugen
authors.forename: Ståle P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Lyngstadaas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001857:Bone Matrix / Q000637:transplantation*; D001861:Bone Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D018786:Bone Substitutes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D017823:Furcation Defects / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D010513:Periodontal Ligament / Q000502:physiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012038:Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature; D014025:Titanium / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography
chemical_list: D018786:Bone Substitutes; D014025:Titanium