Evaluation of osteoinductive calcium phosphate ceramics repairing alveolar cleft defects in dog model

BACKGROUND: Alveolar cleft repair is an important step in the sequence of treatments for cleft lip and palate. Intrinsically osteoinductive materials have been the subject of research interest. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the use of osteoinductive biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) ceramics to repair alveolar cleft defects in dogs. METHODS: We prepared two kinds of BCP ceramic with different physical characteristics: osteoinductive BCP (OBCP) and non-osteoinductive BCP (NBCP). Bilateral alveolar cleft models were surgically established in dogs. On one side, OBCP was implanted in the defect; on the opposite side NBCP was implanted as a control. The materials were also implanted in the femoral muscles to test their properties at non-osseous sites. The osteogenic ability of materials was evaluated with imaging, spiral CT, histology and fluorescent dye tests. RESULTS: At the muscular implantation sites, new bone formed in all of the OBCP samples, but none in the NBCP samples. Imaging and spiral CT revealed good appearance and continuity of the alveolar cleft postoeration, with normal eruption of the bilateral permanent teeth in the groups. Histological and fluorescent dye testing revealed new bone formation in both groups in situ. However, earlier osteogenesis initiation and bone remodeling were superior with OBCP. Osteogenic process in the intramuscular samples with OBCP was similar to that seen in situ. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicated that osteoinductive biphasic calcium phosphate ceramics (OBCP) have superior characteristics in alveolar cleft repair compared with non-osteoinductive calcium phosphate ceramics (NBCP).