Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) in unilateral alveolar bone graft, involving the percentage of residual calcified material and the average labiopalatal thickness of the grafts on cone beam computed tomography at 6 months after surgery, comparing two age groups 12 years and under and over 12 years old.
Results: The mean preoperative defect volume was 0.93 ± 0.20 cm3, with no significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.652). In the postoperative period, we did not record any abnormal bleeding and no infection was observed. Six months after surgery, the mean percentage of residual calcified material was 63.53 ± 16.48% with a significantly higher difference in the age group 12 and under (p < 0.001), and the mean average labiopalatal thickness of the grafted bone was 5.72 ± 1.09 mm with a significantly higher difference in the age group 12 and under (p = 0.011).
Conclusion: Using β-TCP and PRF in alveolar bone graft surgery has acceptable effectiveness clinically and on CBCT images, with significantly higher differences of the percentage of residual calcified material and the average labiopalatal thickness of the grafted bone in the group 12 years old and younger than in the older group.
Keywords: Alveolar bone graft; Cone beam computed tomography; Platelet-rich fibrin; Residual calcified material; β-tricalcium phosphate.
© 2024. The Author(s).