title: Large Bone Vertical Augmentation Using a Three-Dimensional Printed TCP/HA Bone Graft: A Pilot Study in Dog Mandible.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Osteoflux is a three-dimensional printed calcium phosphate porous structure for oral bone augmentation. It is a mechanically stable scaffold with a well-defined interconnectivity and can be readily shaped to conform to the bone bed's morphology.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  An animal experiment is reported whose aim was to assess the performance and safety of the scaffold in promoting vertical growth of cortical bone in the mandible.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four three-dimensional blocks (10 mm length, 5 mm width, 5 mm height) were affixed to edentulous segments of the dog's mandible and covered by a collagen membrane. During bone bed preparation, particular attention was paid not to create defects 0.5 mm or more so that the real potential of the three-dimensional block in driving vertical bone growth can be assessed. Histomorphometric analyses were performed after 8 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 8 weeks, the three-dimensional blocks led to substantial vertical bone growth up to 4.5 mm from the bone bed. Between 0 and 1 mm in height, 44% of the surface was filled with new bone, at 1 to 3 mm it was 20% to 35%, 18% at 3 to 4, and ca. 6% beyond 4 mm. New bone was evenly distributed along in mesio-distal direction and formed a new crest contour in harmony with the natural mandibular shape.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After two months of healing, the three-dimensional printed blocks conducted new bone growth above its natural bed, up to 4.5 mm in a canine mandibular model. Furthermore, the new bone was evenly distributed in height and density along the block. These results are very promising and need to be further evaluated by a complete powerful study using the same model.
authors.affiliation: Department of maxillofacial and oral surgery, Division of oral and maxillofacial pathology (HUG), School of dental medicine, 19, rue Barthélemy-Menn, 1205, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Carrel
authors.affiliation: Division of fixed prosthodontics and biomaterials, University of Geneva, School of Dental medicine, 19, rue Barthélemy-Menn, 1205, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Anselm
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wiskott
authors.affiliation: Division of fixed prosthodontics and biomaterials, University of Geneva, School of Dental medicine, 19, rue Barthélemy-Menn, 1205, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scherrer
authors.affiliation: Division of fixed prosthodontics and biomaterials, University of Geneva, School of Dental medicine, 19, rue Barthélemy-Menn, 1205, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Durual
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D004285:Dogs; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery; D010865:Pilot Projects; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
chemical_list: D002130:Calcium Phosphates; C485817:beta-tricalcium phosphate
keywords: animal experiment; bone regeneration; bone substitute blockthree-dimensional; guided tissue regeneration; three-dimensional printing