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Updated: May 15, 2026
Calvarial Model of Bone Augmentation in Rabbit for Assessment of Bone Growth and Neovascularization in Bone Substitution Materials
Published on: August 13, 2019
A new HA/TTCP material for bone augmentation: an in vivo histological pilot study in primates sinus grafting
Marzio Piccinini1, Alberto Rebaudi, Vincenzo M Sglavo
1Department of Materials Engineering and Industrial Technologies, University of Trento, Italy. marzio.piccinini@ing.unitn.it
Objective:
Synthetic calcium phosphate bone substitutes are widely used in sinus graft procedures due to their osteoconductive and biocompatible properties. Hydroxyapatite (HA), beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP), and HA/β-TCP composite are the most applied materials. The aim of this study was to propose a new mineralogical formulation, HA/tetracalcium phosphate (TTCP), as biomaterial for bone regeneration in the maxillary sinus.
Methods:
Sinus grafts were performed by using granules of a HA/TTCP blend and a collagen membrane. Bone response at time points of 14 and 17 weeks was histologically evaluated.
Results:
After 14 weeks of healing, histomorphometric analysis showed the formation of new bone trabeculae among HA/TTCP granules. After 17 weeks, the bone trabeculae were thicker and HA/TTCP granules were still present. Histomorphometric analysis revealed a bone graft contact (BGC) of 64%.
Conclusions:
After 17 weeks from implantation, HA/TTCP synthetic bone graft performed very well as osteoconductive material: BGC was found very high, and bone volume and vital bone showed an ideal bone density for implant placement. HA/TTCP granules are accounted for to accelerate new bone formation and to reduce the time needed for the graft healing, thus achieving high quantity of the new bone formed.
