This study was performed to evaluate the effect of deproteinized bovine bone mineral soaked in inorganic polyphosphate on bone regeneration in the calvaria of rabbit in the procedure of guided bone regeneration with titanium reinforced expanded polytetrafluoroethylene(TR-ePTFE) membrane. The rabbits were divided into four groups. Control group used TR-ePTFE membrane filled with deproteinized bovine bone mineral, experimental group I used TR-ePTFE membrane and deproteinized bovine bone mineral soaked in 4% inorganic polyphosphate, experimental group II and III used TR-ePTFE membrane and deproteinized bovine bone mineral soaked in 8% or 16% inorganic polyphosphate respectively.

After decortication in the calvaria, GBR procedure was performed on 8 rabbits with only TR-ePTFE membrane or titanium reinforced ePTFE membrane filled with deproteinized bovine bone mineral soaked in inorganic polyphosphate. The animals were sacrificed at 4 weeks, and 8 weeks after the surgery. Non-decalcified specimens were processed for histologic analysis, and new bone formation was assessed by histomorphometric as well as statical analysis.

Both control group and experimental group demonstrated increasing of new bone formation until 8weeks.

At 8 weeks, experimental group I and group II showed the significant difference compared to control group in new bone formation. Especially experimental group II showed the most increasing of new bone formation.

The higher concentration of inorganic polyphosphate filled, the more volume of bone formation promoted, but experimental group III did not reveal significant difference compared to contol group.

Deproteinized bovine bone mineral did not resorbed at all until 8 weeks.

These results suggest that inorganic polyphosphate has a promoting effect on bone regeneration, possibly by enhancing osteoconductivity of the carrier and by increasing osteoinductivity of the defected alveolar bone tissue, but not as we respect.