Ridge augmentation and maxillary sinus grafting with a biphasic calcium phosphate: histologic and histomorphometric observations

Objectives: This retrospective study reports on histologic and histomorphometric observations performed on human biopsies harvested from sites augmented exclusively by biphasic calcium phosphate [BCP: hydroxyapatite (HA)/ tricalcium phosphate (TCP) 60/40] and healed for a minimum of 6 months.

Materials and methods: Five patients benefited from three augmentation regimens (i.e.: one-stage lateral augmentation; two-stage lateral augmentation; and two-stage sinus grafting). In all patients, a degradable collagen membrane served as a cell-occlusive barrier. Core biopsies were obtained from lateral as from crestal aspects 6–10 months after augmentation surgeries. For histologic and histomorphometric evaluations, the non-decalcified tissue processing was performed.

Results: The histological examination of 11 biopsies showed graft particles frequently being bridged by the new bone, and a close contact between the graft particles and newly formed bone was seen in all samples. The mean percentages of newly formed bone, soft tissue compartment, and graft material were 38.8% (±5.89%), 41.75% (±6.08%), and 19.63% (±4.85%), respectively. Regarding bone-to-graft contact values, the percentage of bone coverage of graft particles for all biopsies ranged from 27.83% to 80.17%. The mean percentage of bone coverage was 55.39% (±13.03%).

Conclusions: Data from the present study demonstrated osteoconductivity scores for the BCP material (HA/TCP 60/40) in patients resembling those previously shown for grafting materials of xenogenic and alloplastic origin.