The 3D printed titanium mesh with high porosity has better repair effects than that with low porosity

Background: Most patients with insufficient bone mass suffer from severe horizontal or vertical bone defects in oral implant surgery. The purpose of this study was to compare the bone regeneration effects of titanium mesh with different porosity in the treatment of bone defects. Methods Nine beagle dogs were equally divided into three groups. Three months after the extraction of the first to fourth premolars of the mandible, three bone defects were randomly selected in the mandible. Bone particles and three kinds of 3D printed titanium nets with different porosity (low porosity group, 55%; medium porosity group, 62%; and high porosity group, 68%) were replanted in situ . Beagle dogs were killed 4, 8, and 12 weeks after surgery. Formalin fixed specimens were embedded in acrylic resin. The specimens were stained with micro CT and hard tissue grinding. Results microCT analysis showed that the trabecular thickness, trabecular number, and bone volume fraction of the high porosity group were higher than those of the other two groups. Moreover, the trabecular separation of the high porosity group decreased slightly at any time and was lower than that of the medium porosity and low porosity groups. Histological staining analysis showed that the trabecular number in the high porosity group was higher than in the other two groups at 8 and 12 weeks, and the bone volume fraction was higher than that in the other two groups at 12 weeks. Moreover, the TB. Thmp was higher than that of the LP group at 12 weeks and the trabecular separation was lower in the high porosity group at 4 and 8 weeks. The differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusions 3D printed titanium mesh with high porosity in a certain range may have more advantages than titanium mesh with low porosity in repairing large bone defects.