A histomorphometric analysis on bone dynamics in denture supporting tissue under continuous pressure.

The purpose of this study was to investigate bone dynamics under a denture base, in relation to the intensity of continuous pressure exerted through it to the denture supporting tissue. Two hundred and fifty male rats of Wistar strain were divided into five groups, four of which wore experimental dentures to load continuous pressure of 0.0, 1.0, 10.0 or 20.0 kPa to the molar region of the hard palate. The fifth group was the non-denture-wearing group. Fluorescent labelled palatal bone tissue was stained with Villanueva bone stain and was prepared for the undecalcified grinding section. In the 0.0 kPa group whose mucosa was covered with denture base, although no bone resorption was observed, bone formation was inhibited up to 4 weeks after the denture insertion. Bone dynamics in the 1.0 kPa group was similar to those in the 0.0 kPa group. In the 10.0 and 20.0 kPa groups, bone resorption was observed until 3 and 2 weeks after the denture insertion, and the amount of bone resorption (AoBR) was 24 +/- 17 and 35 +/- 21 lm, respectively. After bone resorption in these groups, although osteoid formation increased earlier than 0.0 kPa group, mineralization showed a similar time course with 0.0 kPa group. In conclusion, bone dynamics under a denture base caused by continuous pressure exerted through it was revealed to show a time course depending on the intensity of the initial pressure. Amount of bone resorption was also revealed to correspond to the intensity of the initial pressure. Bone formation following bone resorption did not cause equivalent recovery of the bone surface level to the level observed in the case without bone resorption.