Comparison of osteopromoting ability of human tooth powder with the demineralized freeze-dried bone allograft, a bovine xenograft, and a synthetic graft: An in vitro study

Background. The present study aimed to evaluate the osteopromoting ability of human tooth powder and compare it to a bovine xenograft, a synthetic material, and the DFDBA allograft.

Methods. In this in vitro study, 30 teeth without caries, inflammation, and infection, which had been extracted for orthodontic reasons, were collected. The crowns were removed, pulpectomy was carried out, and the samples were ground to a powder with particles <500 µm. Osteoblast-like cells of MG-63 were cultured with the tooth powder, Cerabone, DFDBA, and Osteon II. Cell proliferation was assessed by the MTT assay at 24- and 72-hour intervals. The alizarin red test was carried out after three and five days. The alkaline phosphatase level was measured after 24, 48, and 72 hours to assess the osteoblastic activity. The results were analyzed with one-way ANOVA.

Results. According to the MTT assay, all the materials exhibited a higher proliferation rate than the control group in 24 hours. In 72 hours, DFDBA had the lowest cell proliferation rate at concentrations of 40 and 80 mg/mL. DFDBA and the positive control group were able to create calcified nodules by the alizarin red test. At the 48- and 72-hour intervals, DFDBA had the lowest alkaline phosphatase activity at a concentration of 40 mg/mL. At the 72-hour interval, bovine xenograft had the highest alkaline phosphatase level, followed by the synthetic material and tooth powder.

Conclusion. The tooth powder was able to increase cell proliferation in comparison with the bovine xenograft, the synthetic graft, and the DFDBA. However, its osteopromoting ability was less than that of the osteogenic materials.