Bone regeneration after enucleation of mandibular cysts : Comparing autogenous grafts from tissue-engineered bone and iliac bone

The aim of this study was to compare bone regeneration after grafting enucleated mandibular cyst cavities using either autogenous osteoblasts cultured on a biomaterial or autogenous spongiose iliac bone. Twenty patients with 22 mandibular cysts were assessed. Eleven cysts were filled in with tissue-engineered bone (autogenous osteblasts cultured on demineralized bone matrix Osteovit) and 11 with spongiose iliac bone as controls. Panoramic radiographs were taken preoperatively, immediately postoperatively, and 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. Radiolucency was computer analyzed using gray-level histograms. In both groups bone regeneration took place in a similar fashion. After 3 and 6 months there were few differences in bone density between the groups. However, in radiographic controls after 12 months ossification was considerably stronger in cysts grafted with tissue-engineered bone. These results advocate for the clinical application of tissue-engineered bone as an alternative viable filling material for cysts.