No abstract

Although the number of patients examined was limited, the data suggest that deproteinized cancellous bovine bone, preferably combined with autogenous bone particles, is a suitable material for sinus floor elevation in the severely atrophic human maxilla.

Intake of excess amounts of fluoride during tooth development cause enamel fluorosis, a developmental disturbance that makes enamel more porous. In mild fluorosis, there are white opaque striations across the enamel surface, whereas in more severe cases, the porous regions increase in size, with enamel pitting, and secondary discoloration of the enamel surface. The effects of fluoride on enamel formation suggest that fluoride affects the enamelforming cells, the ameloblasts. Studies investigating the effects of fluoride on ameloblasts and the mechanisms of fluorosis are based on in vitro cultures as well as animal models. The use of these model systems requires a biologically relevant fluoride dose, and must be carefully interpreted in relation to human tooth formation. Based on these studies, we propose that fluoride can directly affect the ameloblasts, particularly at high fluoride levels, while at lower fluoride levels, the ameloblasts may respond to local effects of fluoride on the mineralizing matrix. A new working model is presented, focused on the assumption that fluoride increases the rate of mineral formation, resulting in a greater release of protons into the forming enamel matrix.

In this study, high concentrations of bioactive glass (BG) particles were compared with autogenous bone in their capacity to augment maxillary bone when grafted in the human sinus floor using a split mouth design. Three female patients with severe maxillary atrophy underwent bilateral sinus floor elevation and bone grafting using 80-100% BG particles (300-355 microm in size) mixed with 20% to 0% iliac crest bone particles at one (experimental) side, and 100% iliac crest derived bone particles at the other (control) side. A total of 22 bone biopsies was taken at the time of fixture installation; that is, at 4, 6 and 15 months after grafting, and processed for histology and histomorphometry. At the control (autogenous bone) sides, trabecular bone amounted to 39% of the biopsy volume in the graft (site) at 4 months, almost 41% at 6 months, and 42% at 15 months. This bone contained viable osteocytes and was mostly of mature, lamellar type. At the experimental (BG particles) sides, the graft consisted of 27% of mostly woven (and some lamellar) bone at 4 months, 36% (woven and lamellar) bone at 6 months, and 39% (mainly lamellar) bone at 15 months. The grafted BG particles started to excavate at 4 months and their centers gradually filled with bone tissue. As a consequence, the volume of BG particles in the biopsy decreased from 29% at 4 months to 15% at 6 months and 8% at 15 months. The BG particles appeared to resorb within 1-2 years by dissolution rather than by osteoclastic activity. Parameters for bone turnover (% osteoid surface, % resorption surface) indicated that bone remodeling was very active at both experimental and control sides, during more than 6 months. These results suggest that mixtures of mainly (80-90%) BG particles and some (10-20%) autogenous bone are effective for bone regeneration in the augmented sinus offer 6 months healing time, while about 12 months healing time is needed for 100% BG particles.