2011 Volume 24 Issue 3 Pages 371-377
Chitin is an absorbable agent used to promote wound healing and hemostasis, and is also used in medical treatment. We investigated the effects of carboxymethyl-chitin (CM-chitin), a water-soluble derivative of chitin, on bone augmentation.
Four maxillary incisors were extracted from 5 adult Crab-eating Macaques, then the extraction sockets on the subjects' right sides were immediately filled with CM-chitin (experimental sites), while the left sides were left unfilled (control). One, two, four, eight, and twelve weeks after the procedure, the animals were euthanized and acrylic resin was injected via the common carotid arteries. Bone-microvascular corrosion casts were made and observed using scanning electron microscopy to determine the volume ratio of newly-formed bone in each socket.
After 1 week, newly-formed capillary networks were observed in the sockets of the experimental sites. After 2 weeks, the sockets in both the experimental and control sites were filled with newly-formed capillary networks. After 4 weeks, newly-formed bone was observed in the sockets of both sites and the sockets were also filled with newly-formed bone after 8 weeks. After 12 weeks, trabecular bone was thicker and more compressed than after 8 weeks. Image analysis showed that the volume ratio of newly-formed bone was not significantly different between the experimental and control sites.
We concluded that CM-chitin does not obstruct bone augmentation in extracted tooth sockets and is useful to promote angiogenesis in the early stages.
