title: Demineralized deciduous tooth as a source of bone graft material: its biological and physicochemical characteristics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine structural and physicochemical characteristics of demineralized deciduous tooth powder (DDTP) in relation to demineralization time and to present potential of using DDTP as a bone graft material.
  
  
  METHODS
  For structural and physicochemical analysis, scanning electron microscopy, inductively coupled plasma spectrometry, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, X-ray diffraction analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area analysis were performed. In in vivo experiments, DDTP was grafted in 20 Sprague-Dawley rats' calvarial defects, and radiographic and histologic examination and histomorphometric analysis were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In vitro studies confirmed physicochemical demands for collagen-based bone graft material, such as lowered calcium content, lowered crystallinity of hydroxyapatite, and exposed organic structures to demineralization. In vivo experiment indicated new bone formation in DDTP-grafted sites and gradual resorption of the grafted particles. Defect closure rate was significantly higher in the 8-week DDTP-grafted group compared with control (P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Deciduous teeth had structural and physicochemical characteristics suitable for grafting with appropriate demineralization. Bone healing was observed to have successfully occurred in DDTP-grafted sites.
authors: Graduate student, Department of Dentistry, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Mirae
authors: M
authors: Park
authors: Clinical assistant professor, Department of Dentistry, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Yon-Joo
authors: YJ
authors: Mah
authors: Student, Division of Biological Science, University of California, San Diego, USA.
authors: David-Hyungjin
authors: DH
authors: Kim
authors: Private practitioner, Werye Seoul Dental Clinic, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Eun-Suk
authors: ES
authors: Kim
authors: Professor, Department of Dentistry, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: Prosth@ewha.ac.kr.
authors: Eun-Jin
authors: EJ
authors: Park
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012886:Skull / Q000601:surgery*; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D013499:Surface Properties; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000637:transplantation* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction