Freeze‐Dried Bone and Coralline Implants Compared in the Dog

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine histologically and compare 2 potential off-the-shelf, previously untested, bone graft materials in dog periodontal defects. Partially demineralized, antigen-extracted, freeze-dried cadaver bone and a hydroxylapatite replica of a marine coral skeleton were implanted in 30 surgically created 2-wall intrabony pockets in 2 dogs. Results after 6 and 8 mo. showed connective tissue encapsulation and some periodontal ligament formation around the cadaver bone. In contrast, the coralline implant was consistently invaded by fibrovascular tissue, showed bone formation on its internal surfaces and had some periodontal ligament formation around it.