RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The tooth ash can be used as a scaffold for bone tissue growth and provide calcium and phosphorus components during bone regeneration. Platelet-rich plasma can promote the soft and hard tissue regeneration. However, either of them has its shortcomings.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of platelet-rich plasma combined with tooth ash in repairing skull bone defects. METHODS: Nine healthy rabbits were selected to make bone defects on both sides of the skull. Rabbit platelet-rich plasma combined with tooth ash was implanted into the skull defect on the left side as experimental group, while rabbit platelet-rich plasma was implanted into the skull defect on the right side as control group. Skull samples were taken out at 4, 6, 8 weeks after implantation for soft X-ray detection, hematoxylin-eosin staining and modified Gomori staining. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Soft X-ray: The trabecular bone area of the experimental group was larger than that of the control group at 6 and 8 weeks after implantation (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). (2) Hematoxylin-eosin staining: With the duration of implantation, newly formed fibers with bone structure gradually reduced at the defect sites in both groups, and there was a orderly layered arrangement in the bone structure and increased calcification. Compared with the control group, relatively higher new bone maturity, better bone trabecular arrangement and more osteoblasts were observed in the experimental group. (3) Modified Gomori staining: With the prolongation of implantation time, the new bone became mature gradually in the two groups, and the bone maturity in the experimental group was higher than that in the control group. To conclude, platelet-rich fibrin combined with tooth ash is better to promote bone defect repair.