Distraction Osteogenesis May Promote Periodontal Bone Regeneration

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Distraction Osteogenesis May Promote Periodontal Bone Regeneration
2005
J. Faber1,*, R.B. Azevedo2, and S.N. B?o3
Journal of Dental Research

© 2005 International and American Associations for Dental Research

1 Private practice, SCN Q.5 bl.A sala 408 BsB Shopping, BrasĂlia, DF, Brazil CEP 70715-900;
2 Departamento de Gen»tica e Morfologia, Instituto de CiŐncias Biol€gicas, Universidade de BrasĂlia, Brazil; and
3 Departamento de Biologia Celular, Instituto de CiŐncias Biol€gicas, Universidade de BrasĂlia, Brazil;

* corresponding author, jorgefaber@terra.com.br.

ABSTRACT

Distraction osteogenesis has numerous applications in the treatment of conditions affecting the dentofacial complex, from midface advancement to orthodontic tooth movement produced by transversal distraction of the periodontal ligament. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that periodontium can be consistently distracted toward the tooth crown to promote periodontal bone regeneration. After the surgical production of periodontal defects in maxillary canines of 5 mongrel dogs, periodontal bone distraction was performed. Light microscopy was used for histopathological and morphometric analysis. Periodontal bone regeneration occurred in all animals. Periodontal bone regeneration in the distraction sites (Mean ± SD: 5.45 ± 2.01 mm) differed from that in control sites (0.008 ± 0.67 mm; p < 0.0001). Periodontal bone distraction resulted in periodontal bone regeneration. This finding may establish periodontal bone distraction as a new treatment alternative for periodontal defects.


KEY WORDS: distraction osteogenesis Ô periodontal regeneration Ô periodontium

INTRODUCTION

Distraction osteogenesis is the process by which the gradual separation of osteotomized bone edges results in the formation of new bone. During the first days of distraction, the osteogenic area is composed of bone columns extending from each bone surface toward a central fibrous interzone (Tavakoli et al., 1998). The mineralization of regenerated tissue occurs centripetally (Aronson et al., 1990), until the distraction gap is completely bridged and an intense remodeling process takes place (Ilizarov, 1989b). The overall regeneration process is similar to intramembranous ossification (Choi et al., 1997).

Since the principles governing distraction osteogenesis in leg-lengthening were established (Ilizarov, 1989a,b), many applications have been found for it in the treatment of conditions affecting the dentofacial complex, from midface advancement (Gosain et al., 2002) to orthodontic tooth movement (Liou and Huang, 1998). Liou and Huang have shown that rapid orthodontic tooth movement can be obtained by transversal distraction of the periodontal ligament. These findings led to the formulation of the hypothesis that the distraction of the periodontium toward the tooth crown may promote periodontal bone regeneration. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of distraction osteogenesis as a regenerative treatment for periodontal defects.

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