DEMINERALIZED DENTIN MATRIX WITH ARTIFICIAL PERFORATIONS FOR BONE REGNERATION IN CRITICAL DEFECTS OF ADULT SHEEP

A vital tooth-derived demineralized dentin matrix (DDM) is defined as acid-insoluble, cross-linked collagen with growth factors. The objective of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of the perforated-DDM for bone regeneration. Thirty perforations were added to the human vital wisdom tooth after the removal of enamel portion. The modified tooth was partially demineralized in 0.34 N HNO3 for 30 min and grafted into the critical defect of sheep iliac to evaluate bone regeneration. Sheep were sacrificed for μ-CT and histological evaluation at 2 and 4 months after the graft. New bone was connected directly with the grafted DDM at 2 months. The volume of new bone was comparable with the μ-CT, 3D, and the histological findings at 2 and 4 months. The amount of new bone tissue in the critical defects at 4 months was higher than that at 2 months. The results revealed that the human tooth-derived block material with artificial porous structure, the perforated-DDM, successfully contributed to bone ingrowth as the unique scaffold. This novel human tooth-derived scaffold may be a promising biomaterial to induce bone regeneration in the tri-cortical critical-sized bone defects. (Received January 9, 2016; Accepted March 19, 2016)