Objectives: This study aimed to produce a xenograft out of Ostrich (Struthio camelos) Eggshell in its pure form which can be used for immediate alveolar socket preservation after tooth extraction.
Methods: Graft Preparation: Powdered Ostrich Eggshell free of inner membrane and surface contaminants were rendered anorganic by immersion in 5% Sodium Hypochlorite and Sodium Hydroxide, each for 24 hours. The anorganic Ostrich Eggshell was sterilized via autoclaving. Surgical Phase: Left and Right mandibular first molars of seven (7) male Sprague Dawley Rats was extracted. Randomized Sampling Technique was used to determine which side would be the test site and the control site. Processed Ostrich Eggshell was placed in the test site of each rat while none was placed in the control site. Soft tissues surrounding both sites were sutured. The extraction sites were prepared and analyzed histologically. Statistical Treatment: Mann-Whitney Two Sampling technique at level of significance of P<0.05 was used to treat the data statistically.
Results: Inflammatory Response: Both the test and control sites exhibited inflammatory reaction in some subjects. However, the difference between inflammatory response of test and control sites, at a p-value of 0.3173, was proven to be statistically not significant. Osteoblast Proliferation and Trabeculation: The difference between the osteoblast proliferation and trabeculation of the test and control sites was proven to be statistically significant at a p-value of 0.0126.
Conclusions: Ostrich Eggshell in its pure form did not cause inflammatory reaction and it demonstrated osteoconductivity. Therefore, it can be used as a xenograft in immediate alveolar socket preservation.