Histometric analysis of rat alveolar wound healing.

The chronology of alveolar wound healing was analyzed by a standard stereological method (point-counting volumetry) in normal rats. The upper right incisors were extracted and the animals were killed 1, 2, 3 and 6 weeks postoperatively. A light camera was used to determine the volume fraction of histologic components in the apical, middle and cervical thirds of the alveolus. Progressive bone neoformation was quantified, in parallel to a decrease in percent volume of connective tissue. A significantly smaller volume fraction of bone trabeculae in the cervical third of the socket was observed at all periods except the 6th week. The present histometric data show that bone neoformation continued to proceed beyond the 3rd postoperative week.