Animal Models in Dental Research

Abstract

Animal models are essential in order to understand the basic biology underlying dentomaxillofacial anomalies and diseases, as well as to evaluate the various medications and treatment approaches. Hence, implementation of new treatment modalities for medical aims would require animal experimentation prior to clinical phase. However, there is no single animal model that represents all aspects of human soft and hard tissues in terms of disease and healing process, as well as tissue architectures. So, selection of an experimental model is of great importance by considering research objectives. This chapter composes the general information regarding animal model selection for various specialties in dentistry. Endodontics and pediatric dentistry researches commonly focus on pulp regeneration of mature and immature/avulsed teeth, respectively. Herein, we discuss the modeling techniques and the desired animals for in vivo phase of endodontic procedures. Imitation of periodontal or peri-implant diseases with specific microorganisms is explained in the periodontal section, together with the ideal location and situation of each animal model for investigation of implant osseointegration. In the field of surgery, modeling approaches for reconstruction of bone defects, maxillofacial and non-maxillofacial region critical-sized defects, and bone augmentation are determined for mice, rat, rabbit, canine, pig, sheep, and monkey. Orthodontic animal surveys are described under tooth movement, distraction osteogenesis, and trans-sutural expansion subgroups. The best animal models for each dental research objectives were given, and then, experimental procedures and guidelines for conducting animal surgeries, including presurgical preparation, surgical consideration, and postsurgical care, are clarified. Moreover, an emphasis has been given to the required ethical guideline in order to design an animal model. Finally, future perspectives in the use of animal models for dental research including application of microfluidic systems for diagnostic and remedies purposes are outlined.