RADIOGRAPHIC BONE LOSS CORRELATIONS AND TECHNETIUM-99M-MDP BONE UPTAKE IN LIGATURE-INDUCED PERIODONTAL-DISEASE IN THE BEAGLE

The goal of this study was to develop an animal model for the study of acute periodontal disease using silk ligatures in combination with a soft diet in eleven purebred beagle dogs, The silk ligatures were plac ed subgingivally on the mandible second and fourth premolar on one sid e of the mouth; the opposite side served as a control. Dogs were monit ored during the 16-20 weeks of ligature placement, and for 48 weeks af ter ligature removal, Development of periodontal disease was evaluated by radiopharmaceutical uptake into bone, radiographic evidence of alv eolar bone loss, attachment loss, gingival index and prostaglandin lev el. Bone loss occurred an the ligatured side during the ligature phase of the study, Radiopharmaceutical uptake was correlated with radiogra phic evidence of bone loss during the ligature phase. No significant b one loss occurred during the post-ligature phase, Progressive periodon tal disease was induced doting ligature placement, However, a chronic less aggressive form was not sustained by soft diet alone after ligatu re removal.