ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate exophytically vertical bone formation in the mandibular premolar area of beagle dogs by the concept of guided bone regeneration with a titanium reinforced e-PTFE membrane combined with human demineralized freeze-dried bone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four one-year old beagle dogs were divided into control and experimental group. All mandibular premolars were extracted and surgical vertical defects of 5 mm in height were created in the extracted sockets. At 8 weeks after the extraction, TR e-PTFE membrane sized with 8 mm in length, 5 mm in width, and 4 mm in height was placed on the decorticated mandible, fixed with metal pins and covered with full-thickness flap and assigned as control group. In experimental group, decorticated mandibule was treated with TR e-PTFE membrane and human demineralized freeze-dried bone. The animals were sacrificed at 16 weeks after the regenerative surgery, and new bone formation was assessed by histomorphometric as well as statistical analysis. RESULTS: Average of new bone formation was 38% in the control group, whereas was 25% in the experimental group (p<0.05). Average of connective tissue formation was 42% in the experimental group, whereas was 30% in the control group (p<0.05). The lamellar bone formation with haversian canals was observed in the both groups. In the experimental group, the particles of human demineralized freeze-dried bone were observed after 16 weeks and complete resorption of graft was not observed. CONCLUSION: On the basis of these findings, we conclude that titanium reinforced e-PTFE membrane may be used alone for vertical guided bone regeneration, but demineralized freeze-dried bone has no additional effect on vertical guided bone regeneration.