Comparative Evaluation of Ozone Treatment in Critical Size Bone Defects Reconstructed with Alloplastic Bone Grafts

The purpose of this study was to investigate osteogenesis promoted by osteoconductive properties of bone grafting materials and the histopathological effects of ozone on osteogenesis. In total, 56 Winstar rats were equally divided into 4 groups. In control group, calvarial bone defect was created in 14 rats. For second group, 8 mm calvarial bone defect with ozone treatment was applied in 14 rats. For third group, an alloplastic bone graft was implanted on 8 mm calvarial bone defect. In fourth group, alloplastic bone graft was inserted in calvarial defect and ozone was treated additionally. Seven of the rats were sacrificed at the end of 4th week and the remaining 7 were sacrificed at the end of 8th week of experiment. In the study, the periosteal flaps were removed with a thin periosteal elevator and averagely 0.8 cm diameter-circular full bone defect was created with a specially designed trephine drill. The bone from the calvarial region was fixed in 10% formalin solution. After decalcification, bones were taken for routine paraffin blocking. Sections were stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin and Masson Trichrome. Histopathological findings of 4th and 8th weeks rats showed that best result for new bone formation was observed in graft + ozone treatment. It is concluded that ozone treatment increases the hemostasis in graft region, induces angiogenesis, promotes cell proliferation by preventing infiltration, induces matrix formation by influencing osteoblastic activity and has a positive effect in osteogenesis.