Defining Characteristics of Critical Size Defects in Animal Models for Alveolar Bone Regeneration Therapies: A Literature Review

Reconstruction of alveolar bone defects resulting from aging, trauma, ablative surgery or pathology, remains a clinical challenge. In order to test the efficacy of new bone grafting therapies for studying alveolar bone regeneration, suitable animal models are required. The goal of this review is to find out the common characteristicsc of critical size in bone defect for alveolar bone regeneration therapies since there is the possibility that noncritical defects can heal without the need for a secondary surgeon or reconstruction. The size of the critical defects depends on the size of the experimental animal and the location of the defect is made in alveolar bone. Moreover, making critical size defects in animal models for alveolar bone regeneration is often carried out in the mandible. In studies, CSD is used more frequently in the mandible than in the maxilla. CSDs ranged from 4 mm diameter (rats) to 15 mm length (rabbits) in small animals, and from 6 mm diameter (pigs) to 20 mm length (dogs) in large animals.