Use of a synthetic bone substitute to retard molariform tooth drift after maxillary tooth loss in ponies.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the effect of alveolar bone substitute on post-extraction drift of maxillary cheek teeth in ponies.

STUDY DESIGN:

In vivo longitudinal experimental study.

ANIMALS:

Five ponies (5-7 years) with a healthy dentition.

METHODS:

Both maxillary 4th premolar teeth (Triadan 08) were surgically removed. One alveolus was filled with a biocompatible non-resorbable bone substitute (Bioplant 24), whereas the other healed by second intention. A polyvinylsiloxane plug and spring wire isolated the bone substitute from the oral environment. Pathologic changes to dentition and adjacent soft tissue were recorded. Tooth drift was calculated after 1 and 2 years.

RESULTS:

At 1 month, bone substitute material was incorporated into healthy tissue. Tooth drift was observed but differed significantly between control and treated sides at 2 years (P<.01). For both techniques, tooth drift differed significantly between years 1 and 2 (P<.001). Total drift in control arcades for year 1 was 10.69+/-2.12 mm and for year 2 was 9.08+/-0.87 mm, whereas for bone substitute arcades it was 9.90+/-1.60 mm for year 1 and 5.60+/-1.78 mm for year 2.

CONCLUSIONS:

Partial tooth replacement therapy after maxillary P4 extraction provided good healing in the immediate post-surgical phase. Alveolar filling with bone substitute material significantly slowed post-extraction tooth drift but did not stop it completely. Clinical Relevance- Important changes occur in equine dentition after maxillary cheek teeth removal. Further longer term observations are needed to fully validate study findings.

• Authors: Lieven E M Vlaminck, Luc Huys, Dominiek Maes, Michel L M Steenhaut, Frank Gasthuys
• Journal: Veterinary surgery : VS (Vet Surg) Vol. 35 Issue 7 Pg. 589-95 (Oct 2006) ISSN: 0161-3499 [Print] United States
• PMID: 17026542 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Bone Substitutes

Topics

• Animals
• Bone Substitutes (therapeutic use)
• Dentistry (methods, veterinary)
• Female
• Horses (surgery)
• Longitudinal Studies
• Male
• Maxilla (pathology, surgery)
• Random Allocation
• Tooth Extraction (adverse effects, veterinary)
• Tooth Migration (prevention & control, veterinary)
• Tooth Movement Techniques (veterinary)
• Tooth Socket (pathology, surgery)
• Treatment Outcome
• Wound Healing