Feasibility of alpha tricalcium phosphate for vertical bone augmentation.

Aim: Inadequate vertical bone compromises dental implant positioning and subsequent restoration. This study was carried out to investigate the feasibility of alpha tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP) for vertical bone augmentation.

Methods: Nine cortical perforations were made on each side of the parietal bone of rat calvaria under continuous saline coolant. Polytetrafluoroethylene cylinders were placed under the periosteum and α-TCP particles were applied in the cylinders in the TCP group while the cylinders were left empty in the control group. The animals were sacrificed at 4 and 8 weeks after surgery and analyzed radiologically and histologically.

Results: The augmented bone volumes in the control and TCP groups were 91.5 ± 25.6% and 76.5 ± 49.8% (mean ± SD) of the original bone at 4 weeks, and 136.3 ± 59.7% and 139 ± 62.4% at 8 weeks respectively. There was no significant difference between control and test groups. At 4 weeks the bone height was augmented by 168.8 ± 26.7% and 128.8 ± 62% in the control and TCP groups respectively (not significant), whereas significantly higher vertical bone was achieved in the TCP group than in the control group at 8 weeks (251 ± 32% vs 179.2 ± 30.3%, P < 0.05).

Conclusion: After 8 weeks α-TCP is effective in maintaining space under periosteum and potentially would be applicable in vertical bone augmentation.