Long-term histopathologic evaluation of bioactive glass and human-derived graft materials in Macaca fascicularis mandibular ridge reconstruction.

Objectives: To evaluate the long-term clinical and histologic characteristics of alveolar ridge bone regenerated by 2 different types of bone graft materials in a Macaca fascicularis (nonhuman primate) species animal.

Methods: Bilateral osseous defects created in edentulous mandibular alveolar ridges in a nonhuman primate were grafted with bioactive glass (alloplast) on 1 side, and with human demineralized bone matrix (xenograft) on the contralateral side, with each covered by a dermomatrix barrier membrane before mucoperiosteal tissue flap closure and suturing. At 4 years posttreatment, surgical re-entry was performed, and bone core biopsies were obtained from each of the grafted edentulous alveolar ridges, placed in 10% formalin, and processed for light microscopic analysis.

Results: Normal alveolar bone was clinically noted at all sites on surgical re-entry at 4 years posttreatment, and mature cortical and cancellous bone formation was histologically observed with both types of bone graft materials. Residual bioactive glass particles (histologic sections) were found embedded in close contact with lamellar bone where bioactive glass was grafted. Xenograft-treated sites yielded remnants of residual human demineralized bone matrix particles and no foreign body reactions or inflammation.

Conclusions: Numerous particles of nonresorbed bioactive glass graft material, but not human demineralized bone matrix, were found in 4-year posttreatment bone core biopsies of regenerated bone in M. fascicularis mandibular alveolar ridge reconstructions.