A radiological evaluation of alveolar bone regeneration between the left and right mandibles and maxillae of the Chacma baboon.

Marthinus J Kotze,Harry F Kotze,Kurt-W Bütow,Steve A Olorunju

doi:10.4102/jsava.v87i1.1310

Abstract

There is a lack of information in comparing the healing rate between the left and right sides of the maxilla and mandible. Osteogenesis of alveolar bone was evaluated with digital radiology by comparing differences in bone density (BD) at different time points within the left and right maxilla and mandible. Alveolar bone defects were created in five healthy Chacma baboons. Standardised x-ray images were acquired over time and the densities of the selected trauma areas were measured pre-operatively, post-operatively and at 3 and 6 weeks post-operatively. Differences in densities were statistically tested. There was no significant difference when the grey scale averages of the combined first and fourth quadrants (right side) and combined second and third quadrants (left side) were compared pre-operatively (t = 0.70), immediately post-operatively (t = 0.34), 3 weeks post-operatively (t = 0.40) and 6 weeks post-operatively (t = 0.66). There was also no significant difference between the values for the first and second quadrants (maxilla) pre-operatively (t = 0.37), immediately post-operatively (t = 0.30), 3 weeks post-operatively (t = 0.30) and 6 weeks post-operatively (t = 0.38); the third and fourth quadrants (mandible) were also not significantly different pre-operatively (t = 0.29), immediately post-operatively (t = 0.69), 3 weeks post-operatively (t = 0.07) and 6 weeks post-operatively (t = 0.06). However, the results showed an increased predisposition of the right side to regenerate faster than the left side and indicated sufficient information to investigate the effect of laterality and preferred side of mastication on the rate of healing and alveolar BD in the maxilla and mandible.

Highlights

Animal models are often used in dentistry as biological models in research projects on alveolar bone healing and regeneration, especially in periodontology and implantology
When the third and fourth quadrants were compared for all the animals (Table 3), there was no significant differences in pre-operatively (t = 0.29), immediately post-operatively (t = 0.69), 3 weeks post-operatively (t = 0.07) and 6 weeks postoperatively (t = 0.06)
For animal 3, significant differences were noted between quadrant 3 and quadrant 4 between baseline and immediately post-operatively (p = 0.003) on the one hand, and 3 weeks post–operatively (p = 0.005) and 6 weeks post-operatively (p = 0.010) on the other hand

Summary

Introduction

Animal models are often used in dentistry as biological models in research projects on alveolar bone healing and regeneration, especially in periodontology and implantology. As with most treatment procedures in dentistry today, dental implants involve scientific discovery, research and understanding and application in clinical practice. One of the main barriers to a successful dental implant procedure is lack of bone quality and bone density (BD). Amongst others, used for determining BD are dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) (Corten et al 1993) and quantitative computed tomography (QCT) (Adams 2009). These methods are expensive and time consuming. An inexpensive and uncomplicated method was demonstrated to evaluate bone regeneration after trauma and to follow the process over a period of time (Kotze, Bütow & Kotze 2012)

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Results

Discussion

Conclusion