Ridge preservation using octacalcium phosphate collagen to induce new bone containing a vascular network of mainly Type H vessels.

Many studies have shown that it is important to use bone grafts that are easy to mold, bioabsorbable, and stable over time. We focused on Type H blood vessels, which were discovered by Kusumbe et al. in 2014 to be responsible for the interaction between angiogenesis and osteogenesis. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of octacalcium phosphate collagen (OCP/Col), on the healing processes of the extraction socket and the alveolar bone surrounding the extraction socket. Ridge preservation of rat lower first molars was conducted using OCP/Col, and a series of experiments involving micro-CT scanning, observations of new bone, bone morphometry measurements, histological and immunohistochemical analyses, and second harmonic generation imaging were conducted to analyze bone mass, bone quality, angiogenesis, and mechanical properties. The results demonstrate that the calcification level was not very high when using OCP/Col for RP. Moreover, the newly formed bone is rich in vascular components and collagen fibers that are essential for bone tissue remodeling. These characteristics of OCP/Col in RP could contribute significantly to the construction of a rich vascular network around dental implants immediately after implant placement and the subsequent acquisition of osseointegration and reconstruction of the surrounding tissue.