A Novel in Situ Bone Elevation Method to Achieve Vertical Periodontal Augmentation in Dogs: A Pilot Study

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a novel in situ interdental bone elevation method could achieve vertical bone augmentation around natural teeth. METHODS: Horizontal periodontal bone defects were created at nine quadrants of mandibles in five dogs. Six weeks later, one of the nine quadrants was randomly chosen as the model control. The remaining mandibles were allocated into two experimental groups: cortical bone removing (CBR) or interdental bone elevation (IBE). For the IBE group, four millimetres of interdental bone blocks were separated and elevated from the base of alveolar bone. Then bone xenografts were implanted beneath the elevated alveolar blocks. Animals were euthanised 12 weeks post-operation. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) examination and histological analysis were performed to evaluate the surgical outcomes. RESULTS: Enhanced soft tissue profiles were observed in the two experimental groups as compared to the model control group. CBCT images showed that the height of alveolar bone was significantly higher in the IBE group with bone blocks seated near the cementoenamel junction. Significantly larger area of bone tissues with the highest coronal level of new bone was observed in the IBE group. New bone was observed around the elevated bone blocks with bone remodelling and neovascularisation inside the elevated blocks. CONCLUSIONS: Vertical bone augmentation at interdental sites may be performed through in situ interdental bone elevation for patients with horizontal alveolar bone resorption.