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

Abstract

Objective: To determine 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.

Keywords: Tooth extraction, alveolar bone healing, rabbits, osteocyte count