[Animal experimental studies of treatment of bony periodontal pockets using hydroxyapatite]

The purpose of the present report was to evaluate the effect of a solide hydroxylapatite (HA) granulate implanted into artificial periodontal defects in 3 beagle dogs. In order to collect data about the type of periodontal wound healing blocksections were taken 3-6-12 months after implantation and evaluation by light microscopy. Three forms of tissue reaction in relation to the implants were observed: The first showed extraalveolar a fibrous connective tissue encapsulation of the HA-granulate, the second interalveolar an organized bone tissue around the implants, while in the third type of tissue reaction a deposit of mineralized tissue on the surface limited in width, was observed interpreted as cementum formation. In some cases the lost of cementum on the root surface was followed by a bone-like analysis. Analysis of the blocksections revealed new connective tissue attachment to a certain extent and bone/cementum-like tissue formation. But none of this tissue-formation can be calculated before implantation.