Radiographic healing patterns after tooth-borne distraction in canine model

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Orthodontics
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Osteogenesis distraction is an alternative treatment for craniofacial deformities.
• Tooth-borne distractors offer advantages but have limited evaluation in sagittal deformities.
• This study assesses radiographic outcomes of tooth-borne distraction for mandibular lengthening.

Purpose of the Study:

• To radiographically evaluate the effect of two different activation protocols of tooth-borne distraction on mandibular lengthening in canines.
• To compare single versus multiple daily activations of tooth-borne distractors.
• To assess bone regeneration and consolidation following mandibular distraction osteogenesis.

Main Methods:

• Ten beagle dogs were used; 3 served as controls, and 7 underwent distraction.
• Mandibular distraction was performed with single or double daily activations for 10 days.
• A 12-week consolidation period was observed, with occlusal radiographs taken pre- and post-operatively.

Main Results:

• Distraction sites showed well-defined bone margins and regular contours post-distraction.
• Radiopaque regions indicating new bone formation appeared within 2-4 weeks.
• Complete mineralization of the distraction gap occurred by 12 weeks, with good bone alignment and corticalization in most cases.

Conclusions:

• Radiographic analysis confirmed bone regeneration, restoring original bone architecture, particularly with multiple daily activations.
• Tooth-borne distraction proved effective for sagittal mandibular lengthening in a canine model.
• The findings support tooth-borne distraction as a viable technique for managing dentoskeletal deformities.