Radiological Evaluation of the Healing of Bone Defects Filled with Tricalcium Phosphate (Bioresorb) after Cystectomy of the Mandible

Tricalcium phosphate - Ca-3(PO4)(2)- is a resorbable and biocompatible calcium phosphate ceramic with the ratio of calcium and phosphate atoms very similar to natural bone mineral and consequently in the tissue it behaves like an autogenic bone transplant. It is gradually resorbed during remodelling of the bone and substituted with new osseous tissue. In oral surgery it is mainly used for large bone defects which develop during operations for cysts and tumours and in dental implantology. The purpose of the study was to present two cases of the healing of bone defects after operation of jaw cysts filled with granulate beta-tricalcium phosphate (Bioresorb Macro Pore - Oraltronics). The method was performed on hospitalised patients with their prior consent in the Department of Oral Surgery, University Hospital "Dubrava". Bone defects were filled with the required amount of granulate, granules 1000 - 2000 mu m in size. The results of healing were subjectively evaluated by analysis of radiographs after 2, 4 and 6 months and compared with the healing of a similar cavity after enucleation of a bone cyst treated by Partsch II method with permanent postoperative suctions. The preliminary results of the application of Bioresorb Macro Pore in the treatment of large mandibular cysts showed very good acceptability of the material, with no complications with regard to infection or problematic healing of the wound, and restoration of the bone structure was completed within a period of 4 and 6 months after the operation. The examples presented and their comparison with a third example support the application of resorbable tricalcium phosphate. By this method the anticipated bone structure is achieved faster than by other known methods.