Evaluation of Osteogenic Efficiency of an Inorganic Ceramic Material for Repair of Canine Alveolar Clefts

This study was aimed at evaluating osteogenic efficiency of a porous ceramic scaffold (OsteoBone (TM)) in the repair of the alveolar cleft in beagles. Seven male beagles aged 24 weeks were randomly allocated into four groups: a control group (those not treated with any grafts after establishment of a unilateral alveolar cleft; n = 1); an OsteoBone (TM) group (dogs grafted with OsteoBone (TM); n = 2); an autologous-bone group (dogs grafted with autologous bone that was obtained from the iliac bone; n = 2); and a beta-tricalcium phosphate group: dogs grafted with beta-tricalcium phosphate (n = 2). Formation of new bone in the graft area was evaluated by helical computed tomography and hematoxylin-eosin staining. Groups "OsteoBone (TM)" and "beta-tricalcium phosphate" had comparable vertical height of the grafted region at 4-8 weeks after the operation. After 12 weeks, the OsteoBone (TM) group showed significantly greater height of this region (4.30 +/- 0.41 mm) relative to the beta-tricalcium phosphate group (3.85 +/- 0.43 mm). Thus, OsteoBone (TM) as an implanted graft in a model of a unilateral alveolar cleft promotes new bone formation, which may be used as an alternative for repair of alveolar clefts.