A human clinical and histomorphometrical study on different resorbable and non-resorbable bone substitutes used in post-extractive sites: Preliminary results

Background: The healing of sockets following teeth extraction results in a marked reduction of the height and width of the ridge. This in vivo study aims to assess and compare the efficacy of calcium sulphate (CS) and sintered nano-hydroxyapatite (NHA) in postextraction sockets. Materials and Methods: 10 subjects were enrolled for single or multiple tooth extraction and implant placement. Each site was randomly assigned to one of four groups and filled with CS, NHA, a combination of CS and NHA, or left to normal healing. After five months tissue samples were harvested from the extraction sites and prepared for histological investigations. Results: Histomorphometric analysis showed that the average percentages of vital bone was 13.56% ± 13.08% for CS, 17.84% ± 7.32% for NHA, 58.72% ± 8.77% for CS + NHA%, and 80.68% ± 21.8% for the controls; for the connective tissue the results were 33.25% ± 35.75% for CS, 55.88% ± 21.86% for NHA, 17.34% ± 8.51% for CS + NHA, and 22.62% ± 0.52% for the controls; for residual biomaterial the results were 0.56% ± 0.52% for CS group, 21.97% ± 0.79% for NHA, and 47.54% ± 20.13% for CS + NHA. Conclusions: Both biomaterials led to bone tissue formation after five months of healing. The combination of the biomaterials presented a better behavior when compared to the individual application.