HISTOLOGICAL-EVALUATION OF THE BIOCOMPATIBILITY OF A GLASS-IONOMER CEMENT IN RAT ALVEOLUS

A type III glass-ionomer cement (Vidrion F), currently used as fast-se tting lining material and fissure sealant, was implanted into rat dent al alveolus immediately after tooth extraction and its biocompatibilit y was analysed in terms of incorporation into alveolar bone in the wou nd healing process. Histological and histometric evaluation of trial a reas adjacent to the implants showed that by week 1 the glass-ionomer granules were encircled by a conspicuous capsule surrounded by immatur e connective tissue. By week 3 the implants were surrounded by a less prominent fibrous capsule and most of the tested area was occupied by mature trabecular bone. By week 6 the fibrous capsule was thinner and the tested area was almost totally covered by bone, which was in close contact with the implanted material in several places. Quantitative d ata confirmed progressive new bone formation in parallel with a decrea se in the percentage fraction of connective tissue in the trial areas around the implants. The results revealed that the tested material is biologically compatible, being progressively incorporated into alveola r bone in the wound healing process. The quantitative evaluation of al veolar wound healing around a glass-ionomer implant may provide an exp erimental model for future comparative studies carried out with other biomaterials. (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Limited.