Immediate implantation of glass-ionomer cement granules increases osteogenesis during rat alveolar wound healing.

A study was conducted to determine whether granules of type III glass-ionomer cement (currently used as a fast-setting lining material and fissure sealant) implanted immediately after tooth extraction interfere with the time course of alveolar wound healing. Histologic examination of the entire socket showed normal progression of the healing process. Progressive bone neoformation in parallel with a decrease in the volume fraction of connective tissue was quantified by a histometric method up to 6 weeks after tooth extraction. The presence of glass-ionomer granules in the cervical third led to a small delay in bone formation by the first week but not thereafter, as also observed in the remaining regions of the alveolus (middle and apical thirds) which tended, in contrast, to show a larger amount of trabecular bone from the third week onwards. These results show that the material does not hinder the wound healing process, and in fact favors bone neoformation.