SYNOPSIS
The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of different densities of biodegradable hydroxyapatite fiber (HAf) material on vertical bone augmentation. Ten male Japanese white rabbits were used. Polytetrafluoroethylene chambers, which were filled with different HAf densities(termed ‘low’, ‘intermediate’, ‘high’ or ‘empty’), were fixed to the calvarial bone. After 12weeks, animals were euthanized. Specimens were radiologically analyzed with micro-computed tomography and histologically examined. In the intermediate-density group the new bone volume was the highest. The present results suggest the potentiality of this material as bone substitute and the importance of material density in its application.
Key words: hydroxyapatite, fiber, density, bone