A clinical evaluation of hydroxyapatite cement in the treatment of Class III furcation defects.

BACKGROUND: Calcium hydroxyapatite cement (HAC) has been demonstrated in both animal models and human craniofacial defects to be safe, absorbable, osteoconductive, and possibly osteoinductive. This pilot study evaluated a novel technique using HAC to surgically obturate Class III mandibular molar furcation defects. METHODS: Following flap reflection, affected teeth in 6 patients were root planed and etched with citric acid. Experimental sites were grafted with HAC and coronally positioned flaps (CPF), while controls were treated by CPF only. A variety of clinical parameters were recorded initially, and at re-entry surgery 9 months later. RESULTS: At re-entry, all experimental sites exhibited granulation tissue interposed between the HAC and the alveolar bone, and clinical findings were unsatisfactory. Mean probing depth, clinical attachment loss, and recession increased by 0.8 mm, 1.9 mm, and 1.2 mm, respectively, in experimental sites. In controls, mean probing depth decreased by 0.8 mm, and clinical attachment loss and recession increased by 0.3 mm and 1.2 mm, respectively. There was a mean 1.6 mm loss in osseous crest height and a mean 2.2 mm worsening in osseous defect depth for experimental sites, but only a 0.5 mm loss in osseous crest and 0.5 mm increase in osseous defect depth in control sites. CONCLUSIONS: Experimental sites lost 1.0 to 1.5 mm in bone and attachment compared to controls, without any significant clinical benefit. While the concept of surgically obturating Class III furcation defects with a safe, osteoconductive material remains attractive, HAC did not promote repair or regeneration in this technique.

Prevalence of dehiscences and fenestrations in modern American skulls.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence, distribution, and features of alveolar dehiscences and fenestrations in modern American skulls and correlate their presence with occlusal attrition, root prominence, and alveolar bone thickness. METHODS: A representative sample of 146 dentate modern American skulls from a collection at the National Museum of Natural History were examined. RESULTS: The skulls were from subjects ranging in age from 17 to 87 years old (mean 49.1 years). The mean number of teeth per skull was 22.7 and the mean number of either dehiscence or fenestration defects per skull was 3.0. Of the 3,315 individual teeth examined, 4.1% (135) had dehiscences and 9.0% (298) had fenestrations. A dehiscence was present in 40.4% of the skulls, and a fenestration was present in 61.6% of skulls. Mandibular canines were most often affected by dehiscences (12.9%), while maxillary first molars were most often affected by fenestrations (37.0%). Sixty-seven percent of dehiscences were found in the mandible, and 58% of fenestrations were found in the maxilla. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of dehiscences and fenestrations were positively correlated with thin alveolar bone and negatively correlated with occlusal attrition. African-American males and Caucasian females were significantly more likely to have dehiscences, while African-American females were significantly more likely to have fenestrations.