2012 Volume 21 Issue 1 Pages 51-56
Since periodontitis, characterized by the absorption of alveolar bone, is a major cause of tooth loss in adults, many clinical and basic investigators have researched how to regenerate alveolar bone. Recently, from the point of view of regenerating alveolar bone, treatment methods such as guided tissue regeneration and guided bone regeneration have been developed; however, these operations require particular skills and cause great stress to patients. To develop a simple, safe and effective treatment for alveolar bone regeneration, seat-shaped soluble material containing protamine-reduced peptides was applied to carrageenin-induced experimental periodontitis in the mandibular first molar region in rats. After 3D image reconstruction by micro-computerized tomography, the quantity of formation of alveolar bone from the start of the experiment was measured in mesial, middle and distal regions on the buccal side. As a result, after 2 weeks, the volume of alveolar bone had increased from the start of the experiment by the application of protamine-reduced peptides. This result suggested that seat-shaped soluble material containing protamine-reduced peptides may be effective for periodontitis; however, the details of the alveolar bone regenerative mechanism are still unknown, and further research will be necessary in the future.
