Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the ashed tooth powder is utilized as an alternative material of the implant to recovery the bony defect. For this purpose its biocompatibility was evaluated comparing to the synthetic calcium phosphate compounds, such as Syntograft and Calcitite, as well as the vacuum firing porcelain (Ceramco Inc.) which is anticipated to use as a matrix to aid sintering. Bony defects to exposure the bone marrow, $3{\times}5$ mm in size, were created in the right and left tibias of fifteen rabbits, and then the ashed tooth powder at $950^{\circ}C$, the porcelain powder, Syhtograft and Calcitite were inserted in the defects of twelve rabbits of the experimental group and the blood clot only was filled in the defects of three rabbits of the control group. The experimental and control rabbits were sacrificed at 1st, 2nd 3rd week after implantation and the histologic examination was performed. The ashed tooth powder in order to make the needed form of the implant was molded using the cylindrical mold 1 cm high, 1 cm in diameter under the pressure of $1000kg/cm^2$ and the ashed tooth powder was sintered at $1100^{\circ}C$ for 1 hour and the mixture of the porcelain powder and the ashed tooth powder at the weight ratio of 7:3, 6:4, 5:5, 4:6 were molded in the same manner and were sintered at $925^{\circ}C$. From this sintered material, square shaped implants were prepared in the dimension of $2{\times}4{\times}6mm$. The prepared implants were surgically placed in the subperiosteum of lateral surfaces of the right and left mandibular bodies. The dogs were sacrificed at 4 weeks, and then the specimens were examined using the light and scanning electron microscopes. The results of this study were obtained as follows: 1. Any inflammatory response was not noted after implanting of the ashed tooth powder, Syntograft, Calcitite and the porcelain powder during the whole experimental period after implantation. 2. Induction of the new bone formation was significantly shown in the ashed tooth powder, Syntograft and Calcitite. 3. The more the porcelain powder was contained in the implants, the more the porosity was and the bigger the pore size was under the scanning electron microscope. And there was ingrowing of the fibrous connective and the osteoid tissue. 4. The osteoid tissues were found to be directly fused to the implant of the ashed tooth powder, and the mixture implant of the porcelain powder and the ashed tooth powder at the weight ratio of 4:6 under the light and scanning electron microscopes.