Effect of Porous Titanium Granules on Bone Regeneration and Primary Stability in Maxillary Sinus: A Human Clinical, Histomorphometric, and Microcomputed Tomography Analyses.

The aim of this randomized controlled study was to comparatively analyze the new bone (NB), residual bone, and graft-bone association in bone biopsies retrieved from augmented maxillary sinus sites by histomorphometry and microcomputed tomography (MicroCT) in a split-mouth model to test the efficacy of porous titanium granules (PTG) in maxillary sinus augmentation. Fifteen patients were included in the study and each patient was treated with bilateral sinus augmentation procedure using xenograft (equine origine, granule size 1000-2000 µm) and xenograft (1 g) + PTG (granule size 700-1000 µm, pore size >50 µm) (1 g), respectively. After a mean of 8.4 months, 30 bone biopsies were retrieved from the implant sites for three-dimensional MicroCT and two-dimensional histomorphometric analyses. Bone volume and vital NB percentages were calculated. Immediate after core biopsy, implants having standard dimensions were placed and implant stability quotient values were recorded at baseline and 3 months follow-up. There were no significant differences between groups according to residual bone height, residual bone width, implant dimensions, and implant stability quotient values (baseline and 3 months). According to MicroCT and two-dimensional histomorphometric analyses, the volume of newly formed bone was 57.05% and 52.67%, and 56.5% and 55.08% for xenograft + PTG and xenograft groups, respectively. No statistically significant differences found between groups according to NB percentages and higher Hounsfield unit values were found for xenograft + PTG group. The findings of the current study supports that PTG, which is a porous, permanent nonresorbable bone substitute, may have a beneficial osteoconductive effect on mechanical strength of NB in augmented maxillary sinus.

Do Porous Titanium Granule Grafts Affect Bone Microarchitecture at Augmented Maxillary Sinus Sites? A Pilot Split-Mouth Human Study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this randomized controlled clinical study was to analyze the bone microarchitecture at augmented maxillary sinus sites by using different materials in patients to compare the effect of porous titanium granules as a sinus augmentation material with bone microstructural features. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight subjects with bilateral atrophic posterior maxilla of residual bone height <4 mm included in this study and each patient was treated with bilateral sinus augmentation procedure using xenograft with equine origin (Apatos, Osteobiol; Tecnoss Dental) and xenograft (1 g) + porous titanium (1 g) granules (Natix; Tigran Technologies AB). Sixteen human bone biopsy samples were taken from patients receiving two-stage sinus augmentation therapy during implant installation and analyzed using microcomputerized tomography. Three-dimensional bone structural parameters were analyzed in details: tissue volume, bone volume, percentage of bone volume, bone surface and bone surface density, bone specific surface, trabecular thickness trabecular separation, trabecular number, trabecular pattern factor, structural model index, fractal dimension, and bone mineral density. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were found between groups according to bone structural parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Porous titanium grafts may ensure a space for new bone formation in the granules, which may be a clinical advantage for long-term success.