X-ray micro-computed tomography characterization of autologous teeth particle used in postextraction sites for bone regeneration. An experimental study in dogs

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of this study was to develop a new computed method to characterize and measure the bone density measured in Hounsfield units (HU) of particulate tooth grafts, evaluated by micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) at 2 months of healing.

Materials and Methods: Thirty-two dog teeth were crushed with a smart dentin grinder, later implanted in postextraction sites of 4 beagle dogs. Twenty-four cores were taken after 2 months and analyzed by micro-CT (Albira). The methodology used was based on a descriptive statistic of the bone density values measured in HU obtained from the creation of volumes of interest (VOIs) and predefined three-dimensional iso-contours from the images obtained after performing micro-CT of the biopsies of the crushing tooth.

Results: The micro-CT allows established the characteristics of the biomaterials by studying the HU. The most predominant type of bone was type D3 density (400–800 HU). There was a light presence of bone-type density D2 and D1 in 2 of the regions studied.

Conclusions: Micro-CT could be considered a technique of great value in the characterization of biomaterials based on the HU, after implantation in an in vivo model. The distribution of D1 and D2 particles were located around the bottom and middle part of the alveoli and the D3 and D4 bone particles were in the hole core. Therefore, the method proposed in this study is useful to determine the density of the tooth granulate (dentin grinder) and any other biomaterial.