Assessment of bone regeneration after maxillary radicular cyst enucleation with or without bone grafting materials: a retrospective cohort study

Objective The limitations of spontaneous bone healing underscore the necessity for exploring alternative strategies to enhance bone regeneration in maxillary radicular cyst cases. This retrospective study aimed to assess the impact of a bone substitute material (i.e., Bio-Oss) on bone volume regeneration following maxillary radicular cyst enucleation using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Materials and methods Seventy-three patients with maxillary radicular cysts were divided into two groups: one undergoing guided bone regeneration (GBR) with Bio-Oss and absorbable collagen membrane ( n = 35), and the other receiving cyst excision alone ( n = 38). Volumetric measurements using Amira software on CBCT scans evaluated bone regeneration, with cystic lesion shrinkage rates calculated. Intergroup comparisons utilized independent sample t-tests ( P < 0.05), and linear regression analysis assessed the influence of preoperative cyst volume and group on bone healing. Results Both groups showed similar success rates in bone formation at the 12-month follow-up, with no significant differences between them (mean (SD), control: 75.16 (19.17) vs. GBR: 82 (20.22), P > 0.05). Linear regression analysis revealed a negative correlation between preoperative cyst volume and bone regeneration in both groups ( P < 0.05). Conclusion Bio-Oss may not significantly enhance bone augmentation in maxillary radicular cysts. In addition, preoperative cyst volume negatively affected the shrinkage rate of cystic lesions. Clinical relevance Clinicians should consider patient-specific factors such as anatomy and lesion size when determining the need for bone substitute materials. Future research could focus on optimizing treatment protocols and alternative regenerative strategies to improve patient outcomes in maxillary cyst cases.