Effects of boric acid on alveolar sockets filling after dental extraction in rats

Abstract

Abstract Purpose: After extraction, dental alveolus filling aims to reduce bone loss and maintain the alveolus volume to patient rehabilitation. Boric acid (BA) is a boron-derived compound that displays osteogenic properties, being an interesting candidate for alveoli filling. This study aims to investigate the osteogenic capacity of the local application of BA in dental socket preservation. Methods:32 male Wistar rats were submitted to right upper incisor extraction and randomly divided in 4 groups (n=8): control group (no intervention), BA (8 mg/kg) socket filling, bone graft (Cerabone®, Botiss, Germany), and BA + bone graft in equal parts. Animals were euthanized 28 days after dental extraction. MicroCT and histological analysis were performed to evaluate the newly formed bone on the dental alveolus. Results: MicroCT analysis demonstrated that bone volume fraction (BV/TV), bone surface (BS), bone surface/bone volume ratio (BS/BV), bone surface density (BS/TV), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), total bone porosity (Po-tot), and total volume of pore space (Po.V(tot)) from BA and BA + bone graft rats were significantly different from the control group. Histological evaluation displayed a delayed bone repair in BA rats, with the presence of connective tissue and inflammatory infiltrate. The BA + bone graft group demonstrated histological aspects like the bone graft animals, however, with less organized osteoblasts, suggesting inferior bone repair. Conclusion:Osteogenic capacity did not depend on the BA local application after 28 days of dental extraction. The presence of inflammation in the BA group can represent toxicity induced by the substance dosage used.