RESUMO
AIM: This study aims to compare the effect of demineralized xenogeneic tooth graft in its two forms, particulate and block, with bovine xenograft in the healing of a rabbit tibial bone defect model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two monocortical bony defects were made in the right tibias of 36 rabbits, and were divided into four groups. Group I defects were left empty, while group II, III, and IV were filled with bovine xenograft, demineralized particulate tooth graft, and demineralized perforated block tooth graft, respectively for evaluation of the bone healing process. Three rabbits from each group were euthanized at 2, 4, and 6 weeks after surgery. The bone specimens were processed and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and osteopontin (OPN) immunohistochemical staining. The results were subjected to image analysis and quantitative evaluation. RESULTS: Demineralized particulate tooth graft showed the best bone healing capacity compared to all other groups at all time points tested, as it showed a large amount of the formed bone, rapid closure of the defect with a significant increase in OPN expression, and the least amount of the residual grafted particles. CONCLUSION: In comparison to bovine xenograft and demineralized dentin block graft, the demineralized particulate tooth grafting material is a promising bone grafting substitute as it proved to be osteoconductive, biocompatible, and bioresorbable. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Demineralized tooth grafting material can aid in the regeneration of large bone defects, leading to improvement in the filling of the bone defects which can help in oral and maxillofacial reconstruction.
