Biologic responses of autogenous bone and beta-tricalcium phosphate ceramics transplanted into bone defects to orthodontic forces.

This study was conducted to evaluate biologic responses of autogenous bone (particulate marrow and cancellous bone; PMCB) and beta-tricalcium phosphate ceramics (TCPC) to orthodontic stimuli. Nine dogs served as the experimental animals; three dogs underwent orthodontic tooth movement after grafting, three dogs received PMCB grafting without tooth movement, and three dogs received TCPC grafting without tooth movement. Immediately after extraction of the upper second and/or third incisors, the maxillary alveolar bone was resected bilaterally. Autogenous PMCB obtained from the iliac bone and TCPC were transplanted into each bone defect. Experimental tooth movement was initiated 2 to 4 weeks after the grafting and continued for 9 to 15 weeks. Sectional archwires with open-coll springs were used for distal movement of the upper first incisors into the extraction sites. Oxytetracycline and calcein were employed as bone markers. Sections of grafted areas including the teeth were prepared for light and fluorescence microscopy. The results revealed that both autogenous bone and TCPC presented similar adaptive changes to the original alveolar bone without any external stimuli. TCPC exhibited more prominent biodegradative responses to orthodontic force in association with new cementum formation. Root resorption was also less in the TCPC area than in the PMCB region. It is shown that TCPC is biodegradative in nature and adaptive for remodeling during orthodontic tooth movement. This finding indicates that TCPC may be a better biocompatible alternative to autogenous bone transplanted into bone defects subjected to orthodontic tooth movement.