Bone Abstracts

Background and aim: This study was designed to investigate the process of bone formation caused by implantation of octacalcium phosphate (OCP) at alveolar ridge.

Materials and methods: In this descriptive study we used 20 male Sprague–Dawley rats. Synthetic OCP was implanted into the bony defect measuring 3 mm in diameter and 2 mm in depth was surgically created with a bur in the rat mandible. Bone formation at the alveolar ridge was examined histologically between 1 and 4 weeks after implantation.

Results: Osteogenesis was initiated on the center of the defect between the OCP particles and multinucleated giant cells appeared on the implanted materials in 1 week. More apposition of new bone was observed on the implanted OCP in week 2. In addition to bone formation locally around the OCP particles, more apposition of new bone was observed near the defect margin in week 3. At week 4, the defect was almost completely filled with bone, which was in close contact with host bone and implanted OCP was surrounded by newly formed bone. In the control group, bone formation was observed only along and near the defect margin.

Conclusion: The present results demonstrate that OCP could be used to enhance atrophic alveolar ridge or for filling a tooth socket after extraction.