Simvastatin application to augment facial jaw bone in a dog model: pilot study

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Background:

• Previous studies indicated locally injected simvastatin (SIM) promotes bone growth in rat models.
• This research aimed to assess SIM's efficacy in human-like clinical contexts using a canine model.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the bone-inducing effects of locally injected simvastatin in various clinical situations within a beagle dog model.
• To compare simvastatin's efficacy in augmenting bone at sites with and without periosteum.

Main Methods:

• A split-mouth design was employed in four beagle dogs, creating dehiscence defects and placing hydroxyapatite-collagen grafts.
• Local injections of simvastatin (10 mg) or ethanol placebo were administered weekly at three distinct sites: over a dehiscence defect, over thin buccal bone, and on an edentulous ridge.
• Histomorphometric analysis was conducted two months post-injection to quantify new bone formation.

Main Results:

• Simvastatin injections significantly increased the distance between the cemento-enamel junction and alveolar crest around the first molar.
• A notable increase in new bone width was observed on the edentulous ridge following simvastatin administration.
• While simvastatin enhanced bone width over thin buccal bone (PM4 site), it did not augment bone in dehiscence defects lacking periosteum (PM2 site).

Conclusions:

• Locally injected simvastatin demonstrated the capacity to induce modest new bone formation.
• The efficacy of simvastatin in bone augmentation appears dependent on the presence of a periosteal surface.