Guided bone regeneration in mandibular defects in rats using a bioresorbable polymer

The aim of this study was to explore the possibility of obtaining bone regeneration in jaw bone defects in rats after coverage of the defects with an occlusive bioresorbable membrane. The experiment was carried out in 31 rats. The mandibular ramus was exposed in both sides and a 2 x 3 mm defect was produced at its lower border. A gutta-percha point was placed to indicate the original level of the border. The defect on one side was covered with a polyhydroxybutyrate resorbable membrane, whereas the contralateral side received no membrane before closure of the wound. Macerated jaw specimens representing 3 and 6 months of healing demonstrated minimal bone fill in the control defects, whereas all test defects healed to or close to the gutta-percha point, indicating the original inferior border of the jaw. The histological analysis demonstrated increasing bone fill in the test specimens from 15-180 days, whereas only 35-40% of the defect area in the control sides was filled with bone after 3-6 months. Ingrowth of muscular, glandular and connective tissue was consistently occurring in the control defects during healing. It can be concluded that selective repopulation of bone defects with bone-forming cells can be ensured by excluding surrounding soft tissues from the wound area with an occlusive bioresorbable membrane.