Novel Model of Mono Cortical Bone Defect in Rat Mandible: An Interesting Tool for Osseous Investigations

Introduction: biomaterials are worldwide tested in healthy sciences disciplines to be further applied in human patients and these tests ought to be conducted in small animals before they can be safely applied in human clinical research. Objectives: describe in detail a novel model of a mandible defect in Wister rats to provide the researchers the possibility to easily test their biomaterials when the mandible is the fundamental object of study. Materials and Methods: eighteen adults’ male Wister rats were operated for the creation of this mandible defect to locally apply a medication used as a complementary treatment of odontogenic tumor surgery. Results: if properly executed, the vestibular aspect of mandible body of Wister rats is the unique region possible to create a real monocortical defect, preserving the lingual table. Bottom surface and space between internal margins of the defect allow placement of substances in a consistency of cements, powders, and liquids. Conclusions: this novel model will allow the researchers to easily test their biomaterials at the peculiar mandible region, obtain the results in short periods under laboratory conditions, and use less animals, applying the principle of 3 Rs in animal research (replacement, reduction and refinement).