Back ground: white Portland cement (WPC) is a fine powder and most common type of cement in general use around the world. This study was carried out to evaluate in vivo biocompatibility and bone healing efficacy of WPC in surgically mandibular bone defect rabbits.
Material and methods: Fifteen rabbits were divided randomly into three equal groups (I, II& III). Surgical defect was made at posterior submandibular region on both right and left sides. Sterile WPC powder was applied to the left side defect, while the right side was control. The groups (I, II, III) were sacrificed after 1st, 4th and 8th week postoperatively respectively. The specimens were processed for light microscope using H&E and SEM. The newly formed bone filling the defect and cell counting were statistical evaluated..
Results: The experimental sides of all periods revealed increasing in the amount of newly formed bone trabeculae extended from original bone towards the center of the defect. While, the control sides displayed few new bone trabeculae at central area and the lateral wall of the bony defects. The amount of newly formed bone and mean cell counting confirmed the histological results.
Conclusion: WPC is a biocompatible osteoconductive economically affordable graft material.