Effects of combined use of recombinant human fibroblast growth factor-2 and β-tricalcium phosphate on ridge preservation in dehiscence bone defects after tooth extraction: A split-mouth study in dogs

Background and Objective Following tooth extraction, bone resorption is especially severe in cases complicated with buccal dehiscence bone defects. To minimize this, various bone graft materials have been used for alveolar ridge preservation. This study aimed to evaluate additional effects of the concomitant use of recombinant human fibroblast growth factor-2 (rhFGF-2) with beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP) on ridge preservation in a dehiscence defect model after tooth extraction in dogs. Materials and Methods The maxillary first premolars of six beagle dogs were extracted and dehiscence defects of 4 x 4 x 5 mm (mesio-distal width x bucco-palatal width x depth) were created. Bilateral defects were filled with beta-TCP combined with 0.3% (w/v) rhFGF-2 (test sites) or the scaffold alone (control sites). Twelve weeks post-surgery, histologic and histometric evaluations were performed. Results Morphological measurements using micro-computed tomography revealed a significantly greater bone volume at the test sites (48.9 +/- 9.06 mm(3)) than at the control sites (38.8 +/- 7.24 mm(3)). Horizontal widths of the alveolar ridge at the coronal and middle position at the test sites (2.18 +/- 0.71 mm, 2.93 +/- 0.53 mm) were significantly greater than those at the control sites (1.47 +/- 0.41 mm, 2.36 +/- 0.45 mm, respectively). Regarding the histological parameters, the occupation rate of mineralized bone in the original defects was slightly higher at the test sites (44.07 +/- 10.19%) than that at the control site (41.15 +/- 6.56%). Conclusions These results indicate that the adjunct use of rhFGF-2 with beta-TCP is effective for alveolar ridge preservation in fresh extraction sockets with dehiscence defects.