High Frequency Acceleration to Restore Alveolar Bone

DESCRIPTION provided by applicant The health of the oral cavity depends on the alveolar bone which may be compromised by loss of morphology decrease in height width or decreased density Treatments for alveolar bone loss are the application of bone grafts and placement of implants Only a small percentage of population is able to afford treatment This suggests the majority of the population is exposed to the side effects of progressive alveolar bone loss with significant impact in the quality of life The current project will investigate the effect of high frequency acceleration HFA on alveolar bone in animal models of pathological conditions Specific Aim To determine the preservation effect of HFA on alveolar bone morphology An extraction model will be used that mimics the significant decrease in width and height alveolar bone in a short period of time The company will engineer a device to will study the effect of HFA on the quantity and quality of alveolar bone of rats after extraction at two phases the bone healing phase and the post healing phase when the majority of bone loss occurs Alveolar bone density and morphology will be evaluated by microCT Osteogenic effect of HFA will be examined using fluorescent and FTIR microspectroscopy while anti resorptive effect of HFA will be investigated by osteoclasts immunohistochemical staining TRAP and Catapsin K Activation of osteoblasts and osteoclasts markers will be further analyzed at protein and gene expression levels and by detailed immunohistochemical analysis Specific Aim To determine the regenerative effects of HFA on alveolar bone density To study the therapeutic effect of HFA on alveolar bone density an osteoporosis model will be used that shows a significant decrease in alveolar bone density in a short period of time Osteogenic and anti resorptive effects of HFA will be studied in the short and long term studies Bone response will be evaluated at the tissue level by microCT FTIR microspectroscopy fluorescent microscopy and immunohistochemical analysis and at the molecular level by analyzing gene expression and protein activity of markers of osteoblast and osteoclast activity This investigation could have an enormous impact in the field of clinical dentistry and on quality of lie for millions of edentulous patients Not only it will establish a non invasive approach to preserve healthy bone in the jaws but also it will offer an extremely effective method to recover bone density that has been lost to different pathological conditions In addition this method may be used as adjunct therapy to implant integration or graft healing or any other procedure where a strong osteogenic response is needed PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE The application of high frequency acceleration HFA has promise for restoring alveolar bone If successful the research will lead to the development of a non invasive and cost effective device to preserve and regenerate alveolar bone due to tooth loss extraction and osteoporosis