Histologic Assessment of Extraction Sockets Following Tooth Extraction: Suitability of a Rabbit Model

Authors

  • Olaitan O H Department of Dentistry, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo-State
  • Komolafe O A Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology
  • Owotade F J Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Pathology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
  • Saka O S Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology

Keywords:

Tooth extraction, alveolar bone healing, rabbits, osteocyte count

Abstract

Objective: This study was aimed at determining the suitability of rabbits for assessment of alveolar bone healing following tooth extraction.

Methods: Six (6) adult female New Zealand rabbits were used for this study. They were acclimatized under standard laboratory conditions for two weeks before the commencement of the study. Tooth extraction was carried out in all the rabbits and this was followed by histologic assessment of alveolar bone healing and osteocyte count at week 2 and week 4 post-extraction.

Results: All the rabbits tolerated the extraction procedure and no complication was recorded. Histo-architecture of alveolar bone was characterized by marked osteoblastic activity at week 2 post extraction and increased osteocyte presence at week 4 post extraction. Average value of osteocyte count (cells/µm2) was 20 ± 4.58 at week 2 post extraction and 32.33 ± 2.08 at week 4 post extraction.

Conclusion: The result obtained from this study shows that the rabbit could well serve as an experimental animal for assessment of alveolar bone healing following tooth extraction.

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Published

2019-07-06

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 1 (2019): Nigerian Journal of Dental Research

Section

Articles