Abstract:

BACKGROUND: The bone materials were immediately implanted into dental alveoli after tooth extraction, such as deproteinized small cattle bone, hydroxyapatite and hard tissue substitutes, human demineralized freeze-dried bone, etc. These materials could prevent or delay the rapid, sustained absorption of alveolar ridge after tooth extraction.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of immediate implantation of β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) on preserving the residual alveolar.
METHODS: The bilateral and mandibular central incisors of 18 New Zealand White rabbits were extracted, and β-TCP was implanted immediately into dental alveoli on one side as the experimental group, while the other side without implantion as control group. The length, width, and height of residual ridge was measured at 4, 8, 12 weeks after operation. The histopathological changes of the healing procedure of alveolar crest in the surgical region were observed by toluidine blue staining. Changes of bone mineral density of alveolar crest in the surgical region were observed by X-ray. The interface between β-TCP and trabecular bone of teeth extraction were observed by scanning electron microscopy.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The height, width, and length of alveolar ridge in experimental group were higher than that in control group (P < 0.05) at 8, 12 weeks after operation. With the prolonged time, osteoblasts can be seen scattered in the experimental group, new trabecular bone was gradually increased and vascular network became more and more intensive. New bone and β-TCP combined with increasingly close, and β-TCP continued degradation, new bone tissue was formed in the interface between β-TCP and the alveolar bone. It suggested that β-TCP has good bone conduction properties and biological compatibility. It was implanted immediately after tooth extraction, which could effectively preserve the anatomic form of residual alveolar ridge, and prevent further absorption of alveolar ridge.