A comparative study of anorganic xenogenic bone and autogenous bone implants for bone regeneration in rabbits.

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible use and ultimate fate of anorganic xenogenic bone for the restoration of defects in the maxillae and mandibles of adult rabbits. Furthermore, anorganic xenogenic bone was compared with implanted autogenous bone particles with regard to the response of the surrounding connective tissue and possible resorption of these implants by multinucleated cells. Results showed that after 12 weeks, the implanted autogenous bone was actively resorbed by multinucleated cells, and new bone was formed in close apposition to the particles. In contrast, implanted anorganic xenogenic bone was degraded to a much lesser extent, and new bone was seen adjacent to the anorganic bone particles without signs of resorption. Further long-term studies are needed to determine whether anorganic xenogenic bone may be regarded as a resorbable material and whether any side effects occur as a result of this material's tendency to linger on in the recipient bed.