Osteoconduction of Anorganic Bone Particles of Different Sizes

Objective: To evaluate the effect of anorganic bone particles of two different sizes on guided bone regeneration.

Methods: A total of 18 rabbits underwent grafting using particles of different sizes, and followed with histologic and histomorphometric analysis.

Results: Histologically, for both anorganic bone particles, 4 weeks after implantation, some particles near the bone were bonded to the bone tissue and osteoconductive bone growth was seen along their surface. 8 weeks after implantation, bone growth proliferated into the center and replaced the fibrous tissue, newly formed bone was seen in the most area of the cavities. Histomorphometric analysis revealed a higher density of newly formed bone in the small-particle group than in the large-particle group both 4 and 8 weeks after implantation. The total newly formed bone-particle contact area and the bone volume ratio in the interparticular spaces were also significantly higher in the small-particle group both 4 and 8 weeks after implantation.

Conclusions: We conclude that graft bone particle size and interparticular space are important determinants of osteogenesis during guided bone regeneration.