A comparison of demineralized freeze-dried bone and autologous bone to induce bone formation in human extraction sockets.

The purpose of this study was to test the bone-forming capacity of demineralized freeze-dried bone (DFDBA) and autologous bone grafts in extraction sockets. Seven paired sites were grafted with either DFDBA or autologous bone. The sites were reentered between 3 and 13 months for the purposes of obtaining biopsies of the grafted sites and to place endosseous implants. Biopsies from 6 of the 7 grafted sites were evaluated for new bone formation. DFDBA sites revealed the presence of dead particles of DFDBA with no evidence of bone formation on the surfaces of the implanted particles and no evidence of osteoclastic resorption of the bone particles. Biopsies from the 6 autologous sites revealed vascular channels with woven and lamellar bone. Some specimens had retained cortical, non-vital bone chips. These bone chips were undergoing active osteoclastic resorption. The results of this study questions the use of DFDBA as a bone inductive graft material.