Lateral Bone Augmentation Using a Three-Dimensional-Printed Polymeric Chamber to Compare Biomaterials.

Lateral bone augmentation is a critical procedure in dental and maxillofacial surgery. Prior research has shown that bone graft materials must support both degradation and new bone formation over time. However, the effectiveness of calcium phosphate cement (CPC) combined with poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) in this context remains unclear. Established methods rely on materials like BioOss, which have demonstrated predictable outcomes in clinical settings. This gap motivated the current investigation into CPC-PLGA as a potential alternative. No prior work had resolved whether this composite could match or exceed traditional graft materials in promoting bone regeneration. The need for a controlled comparison between CPC-PLGA and BioOss is evident in the literature. Animal models like mini-pigs provide a relevant platform for studying bone augmentation in a preclinical setting. This study aims to address the unresolved question of CPC-PLGA’s suitability in lateral bone augmentation.

This study aimed to evaluate the performance of CPC-PLGA as a bone graft material in lateral augmentation procedures. The specific problem addressed is whether CPC-PLGA can effectively promote bone regeneration when compared to a commercially available material like BioOss. The motivation stems from the need for alternative grafting solutions that balance degradation and bone formation rates. The researchers sought to determine if CPC-PLGA could serve as a viable option in clinical settings. The study focused on the anterior mandibular region of mini-pigs, a model known for its anatomical similarity to human bone structures. The objective was to assess both material degradation and new bone formation over time. By comparing CPC-PLGA and BioOss, the study aimed to identify which material better supports lateral bone augmentation. The findings could inform future material development and surgical applications.

The study employed a controlled experimental design using a ring-shaped polymeric chamber for lateral bone augmentation. Mini-pigs were selected as the animal model due to their relevance in preclinical orthopedic research. Each chamber was implanted in the lateral portion of the mandibular body. The chambers were filled with either CPC-PLGA or BioOss particles for comparison. The study included two time points: 4 weeks and 12 weeks post-implantation. Histological and histomorphometric analyses were conducted to assess degradation and bone formation. The methods involved evaluating the presence of macrophage-like and osteoclast-like cells as indicators of degradation processes. The experimental setup allowed for a direct comparison of the two materials under identical conditions.

The CPC-PLGA material showed significant degradation over time, decreasing from 75.1% to 23.1% between 4 and 12 weeks. Similarly, BioOss degraded from 40.6% to 14.4% during the same period. Degradation was associated with macrophage-like and osteoclast-like cell activity in both groups. Bone formation increased for CPC-PLGA from 0.1% to 7.2% between the two time points. BioOss demonstrated a more substantial increase, from 8.3% to 23.3%. Statistical analysis revealed that BioOss outperformed CPC-PLGA in terms of bone formation (p < 0.05). The CPC-PLGA group did not achieve clinically meaningful augmentation. The results suggest that BioOss is more effective in promoting new bone growth compared to CPC-PLGA.

The authors concluded that CPC-PLGA does not stimulate lateral bone augmentation effectively in a bone chamber device. Both CPC-PLGA and BioOss failed to achieve clinically meaningful alveolar ridge augmentation. The study found that CPC-PLGA’s degradation rate was high, but insufficient to support adequate bone formation. BioOss showed a better performance in promoting new bone growth compared to CPC-PLGA. The results indicate that CPC-PLGA may not be a suitable alternative to established bone graft materials. The findings suggest that further research is needed to optimize CPC-PLGA for clinical use. The study highlights the importance of material degradation rates in bone regeneration outcomes. The authors propose that BioOss remains a more reliable option for lateral bone augmentation in this model.