A Phytogenic Substitute in the Treatment of Maxillary Bone Loss

Objectives: Among the many bone substitutes that overcome traumatic and pathological maxillary bone loss, derivatives of seaweed have various advantages. Those include the absence of contamination and slow resorption, thus promoting the maturation of an osteoid tissue. The objective of this study was to histologically highlight the new bone formation in humans.
Methods: After extraction of maxillary second premolars in two patients, alveolar sockets were filled using a phytogenic bone substitute (Algipore®, Dentsply). A gingival graft was placed over the bone substitute allowing the closure of the wound. At the implant placement, after 7 and 17 months respectively, a bone plug with a diameter smaller than the implants was collected. A haematoxylin-eosin staining of samples was performed and the sections were observed by light microscopy at different magnifications
Results: Clinically, the drill when sampling revealed a hard tissue that allowed the screwing and initial stability of the implants. Histological examination demonstrated well-organized algae residues still present at 17 months. Regular cavities providing the biomaterial structure were partially inhabited by a bone tissue at 7 and 17 months, making each of them a bone growth chamber. Bone was in direct contact with the biomaterial without any sign of inflammation.

Conclusions: The filling of an extraction socket with a bone phytogenic substitute leads to new bone formation. The regular geometry of the biomaterial seems to promote the bone healing.