Characteristics of newly formed bone in sockets augmented with cancellous porous bovine bone and a resorbable membrane: microcomputed tomography, histologic, and resonance frequence analysis.

AIM: Microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) has become a highly accurate and nonintrusive method for analysis of bone. This study aims to determine the microstructural characteristics of the bone formed in grafted extraction sockets. METHODS: This prospective study comprised 10 patients. Cancellous porous bovine bone (CPBB) was used for socket grafting. Ten bone samples were harvested from implant site 9 months after grafting, before implant placement, and histologic and microstructural characteristics were analyzed. Cone-beam computed tomography scans were performed, and implant stability was also determined. RESULTS: Four men and 6 women, with a mean age of 44 years, were included in the study. Micro-CT revealed a compact structure with high bone volume fraction, trabecular thickness and number, but a low trabecular separation and pattern factor, which made it an optimal structure that is expected to resist occlusal loads. Histologic examination revealed an abundant amount of CPBB particles (27.5%) and new bone formation (23.3%) 40.6 months after bone grafting surgery. Moreover, mean implant stability quotient was 75.7 units. CONCLUSION: This investigation demonstrated marked de novo bone formation after a healing period of 9 months. This trabecular bone had a compact structure with abundant thick trabeculae.