Demineralized deciduous tooth as a source of bone graft material: its biological and physicochemical characteristics.

OBJECTIVE

To examine structural and physicochemical characteristics of demineralized deciduous tooth powder (DDTP) in relation to demineralization time and to present potential of using DDTP as a bone graft material.

STUDY

DESIGN

For structural and physicochemical analysis, scanning electron microscopy, inductively coupled plasma spectrometry, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, X-ray diffraction analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area analysis were performed. In in vivo experiments, DDTP was grafted in 20 Sprague-Dawley rats' calvarial defects, and radiographic and histologic examination and histomorphometric analysis were performed.

RESULTS

In vitro studies confirmed physicochemical demands for collagen-based bone graft material, such as lowered calcium content, lowered crystallinity of hydroxyapatite, and exposed organic structures to demineralization. In vivo experiment indicated new bone formation in DDTP-grafted sites and gradual resorption of the grafted particles. Defect closure rate was significantly higher in the 8-week DDTP-grafted group compared with control (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Deciduous teeth had structural and physicochemical characteristics suitable for grafting with appropriate demineralization. Bone healing was observed to have successfully occurred in DDTP-grafted sites.