Fabrication and histological evaluation of a self-setting granular cement using calcium sulfate hemihydrate granules with different pore distribution.

Granular type of bone substitutes is currently used in the field of dentistry to restore alveolar bone defects. However, the migration of the granules from the implantation site is still an unresolved issue. In this study, the feasibility to fabricate self-setting calcium sulfate hemihydrate (CSH) granules using different ranges of loading pressure: CSH(0), CSH(50), CSH(100), and CSH(150) was investigated with the hypothesis that CSH granules with reduced microporosity can inhibit the rapid dissolution rate of the calcium sulfate dihydrate (CSD) set blocks and induce bone regeneration. After 4 weeks of implantation, the granules were mostly replaced with new bone although no significant differences were observed. Nevertheless, the granules demonstrated the ability to set within the bone defect. It is therefore concluded that the setting ability of calcium sulfate can contribute to address the issue of migration of the granules and provide a useful guide for designing setting bone substitutes.