MicroCT Imaging on Living Alligator Teeth Reveals Natural Tooth Cycling.

To study tooth cycling in polyphyodont animals, we chose to work on alligators. Alligators have teeth in three phases of development at each tooth location. This assembly of three teeth is called a tooth family unit. As part of the study, in order to study tooth cycling in alligators, we wanted to know the configuration of the tooth family unit in every tooth position. From the surface of the mouth, this is difficult to assess. Therefore, we decided to use MicroCT which can image X-ray dense materials providing a three-dimensional view. MicroCT provided us with valuable information for this study. The method described below can be applied to study tooth cycling in other vertebrate species.

Biological functionalization of dental implants with fibronectin: a scanning electron microscopic study.

OBJECTIVES: Early stages of peri-implant bone formation play an essential role in the osseointegration and long-term success of dental implants. Biological implant surface coatings are an emerging technology to enhance the attachment of the implant to the surrounding bone and stimulate bone regeneration. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of coating the implant surface with fibronectin on osseointegration. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The experiment was conducted on a total of twelve New Zealand white mature male rabbits, weight between 2.5-4 kg. Twenty four pure titanium implants were used in this study. Each rabbits received two implants, one implant in each tibia; the implant in the right limb was coated with fibronectin (experimental group), whilst on the contralateral side the implants were placed without coating (control group). Six rabbits were sacrificed for Scanning Electron Microscopic evaluation after 4 and 8 week healing periods. RESULTS: The results of the present study demonstrating the mean gap distance between the bone and implant was greater in the control group compared to fibronection group at both observation periods however, the difference between these two groups was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Thus, it could be suggested that the biological functionalization of dental implants with fibronectin, may influence the integration or biocompatibility and bonding of the implant to the surrounding bone.