An Experimental Study of Bone Grafting Using Rat Milled Tooth

Purpose: The aim of this study was to develop a novel bone graft material that used extracted teeth. Materials and Methods: Thirty-six 10-week-old male Wistar rats were used. The incisors were extracted, immediately frozen and milled, mixed with hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), and injected into the socket. The remaining rats received HPC alone, or the socket was left to heal untreated. Socket healing and bone formation in all three groups were evaluated by three-dimensional image analysis from microcomputed tomography examination and histologic observation. Results: Quantitative morphologic measurements demonstrated that bone formation was significantly stimulated in the group that received milled tooth and HPC at 2 and 4 weeks after extraction compared to that of the control (untreated) group, which showed normal healing without any intervention. Histologic observation revealed that the compound of milled tooth and HPC promoted early healing of the socket and initiation of bone formation in the surrounding area. Interestingly, HPC injection alone decreased bone formation and bone mineral content at 2 weeks and then increased bone formation at 4 weeks. Conclusion: A bone graft material composed of milled tooth promotes early healing and bone formation, while HPC, which is chemically stable in vivo, affects bone formation in the extraction socket. Keywords: bone graft material, hydroxypropyl cellulose, milled tooth, socket healing, three-dimensional image analysis