Healing of acute alveolar bone dehiscence following treatment with porous biphasic calcium phosphate in beagle dogs

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate histologically in beagle dogs the healing in acute dehiscence type defects following treatment with open flap debridement (OFD) with or without porous biphasic calcium phosphate (PBCP). Alveolar bone dehiscence defects were surgically created bilaterally at the labial aspects of maxillary third incisors in 12 beagle dogs. After root conditioning with ethylenediaminetetraacetate, PBCP was filled in the defects and the contralaterals were cured with OFD. Two fluorochrome labelings were administered at the 7th and 11th weeks, respectively. Four dogs were killed at the 12, 16, and 24 weeks, respectively. Histological observations were processed through microcomputed tomographic imaging, fluorescence microscope, and light microscopy. The formation of new regenerated tissues was assessed histomorphometrically. The results revealed the healing after treatments with PBCP evidenced a new attachment apparatus and that with OFD supported periodontal repair. In PBCP groups, the amount of new bone varied from 1.15 to 3.86 mm (23–77.2% of the original defect size), while only 0.3 to 1.04 mm (6–20.8%) in OFD group. The amount of new cementum in PBCP varied from 1.18 to 4.16 mm (23.6–82.3%), while only 0.67 to 1.15 mm (13.4–23%) in OFD group. The amount of periodontal ligament in PBCP varied from 1.03 to 4.12 mm (20.6–82.4%), while only 0 to 0.93 mm (0–18.6%) in OFD group. There was significantly more regenerated tissue in PBCP groups compared to OFD procedures (p < 0.01). The present results indicate that PBCP may enhance periodontal regeneration in acute-type labial dehiscence defects.