Metaplastic formation of bone and chondroid in flabby ridges.

The present study was undertaken to demonstrate certain histological characteristics of biopsies from flabby ridges. Our results show that metaplastic formation of bone and chondroid are found in specimens from patients where radiopaque structures were visible on radiographs outside the alveolar ridge. Another aim was to demonstrate the metabolic activity of these zones especially as formerly they were believed to be non-vital. The cells in the vicinity of the bone and cartilage showed a higher activity of all metabolic enzymes studied than did ordinary fibroblasts; also the osteocytes and chondrocytes showed positive reactions for several enzymes.