Clinical evaluations of OSTEON as a new alloplastic material in sinus bone grafting and its effect on bone healing.

PURPOSE The objective of this study was to clinically evaluate the use of OSTEON as a sinus graft material and to measure the effect of healing at 4 and 6 months after surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS After sinus graft using OSTEON in 17 patients, bone specimens were collected from lateral sinus using 2.0-mm trephine bur at the time of 4 or 6 months after surgery. Histology of the bone specimens was prepared and the percentage of newly formed bone fraction, lamellar bone/woven bone ratio (LB/WB), and newly formed bone/graft material ratio (NB/GM) were measured to indicate the suitability of the materials and the successful healing of the graft. RESULTS The morphology of OSTEON was observed to be interconnected, with 77% porosity and a pore size of 300-500 microm. After implantation, the mean percentage of newly formed bone fraction after 4 months and 6 months surgery was 40.6 and 51.9%, respectively. Statistical analysis indicated no significant difference (p = 0.135) in the newly formed bone fraction between the two postoperative periods. The mean LB/WB ratio after 4 months and 6 months surgery was 0.14 and 0.45, respectively, with significant difference observed between the two postoperative periods (p = 0.027). Additionally, the mean NB/GM ratio after 4 months and 6 months surgery was 1.95 and 7.72, respectively, with significant difference observed between the two postoperative periods (p = 0.046). CONCLUSION It was concluded that OSTEON is suitable for use in sinus graft application since desirable time-dependent healing was demonstrated.