Ultrastructural identification of cells involved in the healing of intramembranous bone grafts in both the presence and absence of demineralised intramembranous bone matrix

Alveolar bone defects are conditions that impede the progress of orthodontic treatment. This study compared the mechanics of the healing of autogenous intramembranous (IM) bone grafts and grafts comprising a mixture of IM and demineralised bone matrix of autogenous intramembranous origin (DBM_IM), in an attempt to determine the reliability of each material. Thirty-two New Zealand white rabbits had a single defect created in their skull. Sixteen were grafted with IM bone alone (Group I: autogenous IM), and the other 16 had a combined graft of composite IM sandwiched between two layers of DBM_IM (Group II: composite IM-DBM_IM). A third group (Group III) of eight rabbits each had two defects created in their skull; one defect was left empty (A: passive control) and the other filled with rabbit-skin collagen (B: active control). In Groups I and II, inflammatory cells were found to be present on Days 1 and 2 of tissue retrieval. The appearance of the mesenchymal cells and preosteoblasts, osteoblasts and osteocytes was earlier (Day 3) in Group II than in Group I (Day 5). In both groups, preosteoblasts, osteoblasts and osteocytes were observed with no cartilage at the intermediate stage. In conclusion, autogenous IM bone grafts and IM bone grafts in the presence of DBM_IM healed through an osteogenic ossification route.