Osseointegration evaluation of an experimental bone graft material based on hydroxyapatite, reinforced with titanium-based particles

Abstract

Bone graft materials are more and more frequently used in dentistry for improving the periodontal support and for creating a bone support favorable for the insertion of dental implants. The experimental study carried out on laboratory animals aimed to evaluate the biocompatibility and the manner of integration of an experimental bone augmentation material, based on hydroxyapatite (HAp), reinforced with titanium-based particles by comparison with a commercial synthetic graft material already existing on the profile market, also based on HAp. We noticed a common pattern of evolution, although there were differences related to the speed of new bone tissue formation and implicitly the morphological elements captured at the two moments of time. In the presence of both synthetic materials, ossification also begins from the center of the cavity at distance from the margins of the bone defect, with a common pattern with an appearance with the presence of osteon-like structures. The experimental material generally determined a more intense initial inflammatory reaction, followed by the generation of a repair bone tissue with a denser appearance but with a less uniform structure and a greater number of residual particles.