Alveolar ridge augmentation using various bone substitutes--a web form of titanium fibers promotes rapid bone development.

Alveolar ridge augmentation with beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP) granules, calcium phosphate cement (CPC) powder and web form of titanium fibers (TW) added to Platelet-Rich-Plasma (PRP) was histologically observed for 5 months by the experiments using the maxilla of rabbits. As a result, TW was thus found to promote the rapid bone development within a period of less than 5 months, because TW had an appropriate gap between the titanium fibers for new bone progression. However, titanium fibers remained intact within the maxilla. The CPC powder was transformed into dense cement and also remained intact in the bone. These residual materials must be obstacles to perform the placement of dental implants. On the other hand, beta-TCP granulations were gradually replaced by the new bone, but this process took about 5 months to be completed. Consequently, for an ideal alveolar bone substitute, there needs to be a suitable gap formation within the substitute, such as TW, and properties of total bone replacement, such as that seen in beta-TCP granules.