Split-Mouth Comparison Between Autologous Dentin and Heterologous Bone in Bone Regeneration: Clinical Study on 15
Francesco Ferragina1, Angelo R Sottile2, Selene Luccisano3
1Maxillofacial Surgery Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Renato Dulbecco Hospital, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
Objectives:
This study aims to compare the efficacy of heterologous bone grafts to autologous dentine-derived grafts (processed with the Tooth Transformer) in promoting bone regeneration in patients with posterior maxillary atrophy.
Materials And Methods:
A prospective, split-mouth study was performed on 15 patients (mean age 52 ± 8 years) with symmetrical post-extraction sites in the jaw. All patients received a heterologous bone graft on one side and an autologous dentine graft on the other. We evaluated new bone formation 4 months after surgery through histomorphometric analysis. Statistical analysis was carried out using paired t-tests and Wilcoxon tests, with a significance level of p < 0.05.
Result:
A histomorphometric evaluation revealed a significantly higher percentage of new bone formation in the sites treated with autologous dentine (mean 37.68%) compared to heterologous bone (mean 24.05%). The mean discrepancy between the groups was 13.63% (p < 0.001). Autologous dentine exhibited superior osteoinductive potential, attributable to the presence of bioactive molecules such as BMPs and Type I collagen, which were absent or denatured in heterologous bone. Both materials provided effective three-dimensional scaffolding, but dentine showed earlier osteoblastic colonization and enhanced biological activity at the grafting site.
Conclusion:
Autologous dentine-derived grafts processed by the Tooth Transformer significantly outperform heterologous bone in terms of new bone formation in maxillary atrophy. The study highlights the potential of dentine as a promising regenerative biomaterial, offering a safe and effective solution tailored to individual patients, thereby reducing the need for additional donor sites or synthetic alternatives.
