Host tissue reactions of non-demineralized autogenic and xenogenic dentin blocks implanted in a non-osteogenic environment. An experimental study in rabbits.

Dentoalveolar ankylosis with osseous replacement is often seen after replantation of avulsed teeth, and this process may be used for preservation of alveolar crests after trauma. Its exact mechanisms with regard to osteoinductive properties are not yet fully understood and need to be systematically investigated. Dentin can possibly act as a slow-releasing carrier of bone morphogenic proteins (BMP), and this property of dentin has been proposed to be used as an alternative or supplement to bone grafting in the maxillofacial region. We aimed to initially asses host tissue reactions to dentin by implanting dentin blocks of autogenic and xenogenic human origin in rabbit connective tissue of the abdominal wall and femoral muscle. Animals were sacrificed after a period of 3 months, and histological processing, sectioning and examinations were carried out. Bone formation, cell counts and thickness of capsule surrounding the grafts were evaluated. Only minor signs of heterotopic bone formation were seen. There were no significant differences between autografts and xenografts or grafts implanted in connective tissue or muscle with regards to tissue reactions except for a significant difference (P = 0.018) in findings of more local inflammatory cells in relation to grafts placed in connective tissue in the autograft group. We conclude that during the time frame of this study, non-demineralized dentin, whether autogenous or xenogenic did not have the potential to induce bone formation when implanted in non-osteogenic areas such as the abdominal wall and abdominal muscle of rabbits.