INTRODUCTION:Bone regeneration represents an important challenge in oral surgery. Several means have been employed to improve bone healing, each having several advantages and disadvantages. The search for new materials and methods is an ongoing process.
OBJECTIVES:The aim of the present study was to evaluate the bone inductive effect of the freeze-dried human amniotic membrane (FDAM) as a novel biomaterial for bone regeneration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve adult male dogs were involved in this study. Bilateral critical-sized mandibular defects were created in each dog. One defect was left uncovered as a control. The other defect was covered with a double layered sterile freeze-dried human amniotic membrane (FDAM) to serve as a study. At each of three time points -4, 8, and 12 weeks -four dogs were euthanized and their mandibles were harvested en bloc and osteotomy sites were submitted for histochemical examination to evaluate bone healing. RESULTS: The tissue samples were obtained after 4, 8, and 12 weeks for histochemical examination. The FDAM was found to enhance the blood supply to the defect area in the study group and gave rise to bone induction (P ˂0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our study findings indicate that the FDAM has the potential for the enhancement of bone healing and bone induction.