Veterinary Osseous Site Reconstruction Utilizing Autologous Dentin from Extracted Teeth

Abstract

Following tooth extraction, we often observe significant changes of ridge contour that is the result of alveolar bone loss. Most of the bone loss occurs during the first 3 to 4 months following extraction. To prevent this, it is strongly recommended to graft the extraction site with a biocompatible and bioactive osseous graft material at the time of extraction. There are many options available for socket grafting each with its own deficiencies. Most of the synthetic and allograft type bone substitutes preserve the alveolar ridge during the repair phase of the wound healing, but subsequently resorb during the following remodeling phase and therefore only achieve partial ridge restoration. Xenografts, on the contrary, do not osseointegrate sufficiently and form “islands” of foreign body within the bone structure. Recently, a novel procedure was developed where the extracted tooth is immediately processed into an autologous graft that preserves the alveolar ridge for many years and is biocompatible to the host site in a highly predictable manner. The procedure also helps to keep treatment costs lower than prepackaged graft materials. This autologous dentin particulate, made from the extracted tooth of the patient, undergoes ankylosis with the newly formed bone around it. The result is a biological connection or fusion of the graft and the host bone, an interface that is more biological than other alternatives, hence providing optimal and predictable results in the short and long term.