Accelerated Bone Healing After Osteotomy with Conventional Dental Ultrasonic System

Objectives: Osteotomy is a surgical procedure by which bone is cut, usually with rotary burs. Ultrasonic devices have been used in some regions of the body for avoiding heating during osteotomy. However, these devices may be big for intra-oral osteotomies, besides they are expensive. The aim of this study was to analyze the bone healing after osteotomy performed in a craniofacial bone with a conventional dental ultrasonic (CDU) device with osteotomy performed with bur by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Methods: A 1x3 mm bone defect was created at each parietal bone of twenty 2.5-month-old male Wistar rats, both at the same distance from the interparietal suture. The right defect (control) was performed using a conventional low speed rotary diamond bur, while the left one (experimental) was created with CDU apparatus coupled to a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) bur (CVDentus, Brazil). Periphery (borders) of experimental defects were clearly smooth in comparison to the controls. The rats were randomly divided into two groups: the first group was left for 4 weeks after osteotomy and the second for 8 weeks. At the established times, the calvaria were rapidly dissected, fixed with a glutaraldehyde-formaldehyde fixative and processed for SEM. Specimens were examined under a Jeol 6100 SEM.

Results: At the first week after osteotomies, swelling and other inflammatory signs were no observed at the experimental bone defects from all rats, whereas they were evident at the control ones. SEM examination at 4 weeks revealed more bone formation arising from the defect borders in the experimental group than in controls. It was confirmed in the specimens left for 8 weeks which were almost closed; comparatively, controls exhibited a larger hole.

Conclusion: Results showed that use of CDU and CVD bur for osteotomy accelerates bone healing when compared to conventional low speed rotary diamond burs.