Efficacy of bovine bone mineral for alveolar augmentation: a human histologic study

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the osteoconductivity of bovine bone mineral in humans. Fifteen patients referred to a private specialist surgical practice were treated consecutively for the repair of alveolar defects, and/or ridge maintenance at the site of extraction sockets, prior to implantation. Bio-Oss xenograft (Geistlich Pharma, Wolhusen, Switzerland) was utilized as the principal grafting material. Bone cores were trephined out at the time of implant placement and processed and examined to evaluate the tissue response under the light microscope. A total of 22 trephines were processed for histomorphometric evaluation to calculate the mean percentage of bone, residual graft and connective tissue by area. In addition, the mean percentage bone-to-graft contact was also calculated. The mean percentage area of new bone formation was 26.9%, and the percentage of residual graft and connective tissue as 25.6% and 47.4% respectively. The mean percentage contact length between bone and residual graft was 34%. One implant placed into a site, which was histologically identified as having little new bone and, unusually, an inflammatory infiltrate, failed with mobility at abutment connection. All other implants were restored into function, with a survival rate at baseline of 97%.