Role of chitin beads in the formation of jaw bone by guided tissue regeneration. An experiment in the rat.

It has been reported that local application of bone grafts or synthetic bone substitutes (filler materials) may favour bone formation when used in combination with guided tissue regeneration (GTR). Therefore, the aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the effect of application of chitin beads (a bioabsorbable natural polymer) as a bone substitute in bone formation by GTR. The experiment was carried out in 25 rats. The mandibular ramus was exposed on one side after elevation of a muscle-periosteal flap, and a teflon capsule filled with chitin beads (2.0 mm in diameter) was placed with its opening facing the lateral aspect of the ramus. On the contralateral side of the jaw, serving as control, an empty teflon capsule was placed in the same manner. Groups of 5 animals were sacrificed at 7, 15, 30, 60 and 120 days following capsule placement. Histological analysis demonstrated that the amount of newly formed bone was similar in both experimental and control specimens, amounting to approximately 3% of the central/largest, cross-sectional area created by the capsule at 15 days, and to approximately 9% of this area at 30 days following capsule placement. At 60 and 120 days, however, the amount of newly formed bone observed in the control specimens was twice as large as that observed in the test specimens, amounting to approximately 31% of the cross-sectional area created by the capsule at 60 days, and to approximately 45% at 120 days. It is concluded that, although chitin beads (2.0 mm in diameter) are biocompatible, their presence retards bone formation in the model system used.

Formation of jawbone tuberosities by guided tissue regeneration. An experimental study in the rat.

The aim of this study was to explore the possibility of creating bone tuberosities on the mandibular ramus in rats, using a rigid, occlusive, Teflon capsule. The experiment was carried out in 30 rats. The mandibular ramus was exposed bilaterally. On the test side, the periosteum was left covering the lateral surface of the ramus. On the contralateral side (control), the periosteum was elevated from the lateral surface together with the flap. A hemispherical, Teflon capsule was then placed to face the periosteum or the bone surface with its open part before closure of the wound. The healing periods comprised 7-120 days. Histological analysis demonstrated increasing bone fill in the test specimens from 7 to 60 days, and a limited further increase was observed from 60 to 120 days. In the control specimens, limited bone fill was seen within the first month after surgery, but substantial amounts of new bone were produced from 30-120 days. At 120 days, the mean amount of bone obtained in the test specimens was 56% (range 39%-71%) of the total space created by the capsules, and it was 52% (range 32%-85%) in the controls. The amount of newly formed bone was equivalent to a 5-6 times increase of the original width of the mandibular ramus. These findings indicate that a secluded space created by an occlusive barrier adjacent to existing bone or periosteum may be filled out with bone tissue. This may have a great clinical impact in cranial and maxillofacial surgery.

[Process of regeneration of cementum observed by various fluorescent-labeling methods].

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of various fluorescent-labeling methods on longitudinal information associated with the process of regeneration of cementum after periodontal therapy. Mandibular bilateral premolars and molars in three monkeys were used. Prior to the labeling, experimental periodontitis was surgically produced at the mesial site of each tooth. In four weeks, scaling and root planing were carried out, and time marking was performed by injection of 3 kinds of fluorescent-labeling materials, tetracycline hydrochloride (30 mg/kg), calcein (8 mg/kg), and alizarin complexon (20 mg/kg), intramuscularly. The animals were sacrificed 4 days after the last injection and serial sections without decalcification were prepared. They were examined under a fluorescence microscope and further observed by contact microradiography (CMR) and staining with toluidine blue. According to the observations made by fluorescence microscopy, marked regeneration of the cementum was revealed by each of the 3 labeling agents. Also, the presence of regenerated cementum was supported by the observations by CMR and after toluidine blue staining. In addition, the regeneration of new cementum was shown to start in about 2 weeks after scaling and root planing. Judging from the results of this experiment, the various fluorescent-labeling methods seem to be effective for observing the process of regeneration of cementum.

Abrasive properties of commonly used dentifrices.

This study was conducted to examine the effect of various dentifrices on the abrasion of acrylic resin and extracted human tooth. The influence of the difference in the hardness of the filament of the toothbrush on the abrasion was also studied, using three kinds of toothbrushes. The specimens (acrylic resin and extracted human tooth) were brushed 3,000 times by the back- and -forth stroke movement using a toothbrushing machine for two hours. The surface irregularities of the specimen were analyzed by the surface analyzer and observed by the scanning electron microscopy before and after the brushing procedure. Moreover, the weight loss of the test specimens of the acrylic resin materials was determined, weighing them by a microbalance before and after brushing. The abrasiveness of the dentifrices showed a wide range, but the abrasiveness of the toothbrush itself was not observed. All dentifrices except one which did not contain the abrasive materials had abrasive effects on both the acrylic resin and human tooth. There was a high correlation (r = 0.96) between the weight loss and the surface irregularities in the case of acrylic resin.