Alveolar ridge augmentation in rats by combined hydroxylapatite and osteoinductive material.

The purpose of this study was to examine if increased bony ingrowth developed when hydroxylapatite was implanted together with an osteoinductive substrate. Dense hydroxylapatite granules (HA) (Calcitite, Calcitek, San Diego, CA, USA) were mixed with equal volumes of allogenic, demineralized, lyophilized dentin or bone and implanted subperiosteally for alveolar ridge augmentation purposes and heterotopically in the abdominal muscles in rats. Light microscopic evaluation revealed that HA was surrounded by fibrous connective tissue containing foreign body giant cells and it had neither an osteoinductive nor an osteoconductive effect. The newly formed bone induced from the implanted allogenic, demineralized, lyophilized dentin or bone was never found in close contact with the HA and did not incorporate the implant.