Filling of extraction sockets with autogenous bone in cats

PURPOSE: To evaluate bone healing in the extraction socket of the feline mandibular canine tooth after grafting. METHODS: Eighteen adult cats were submitted to unilateral extraction of mandibular canine tooth and divided into three groups. In group 1 (n=6), control, the extraction socket was left empty. In group 2 (n=6), the extraction socket was filled with autogenous cancelous bone from the iliac crest and in group 3 (n=6), with cortical bone chips from the iliac crest. Cats were euthanized at 6 weeks postoperative. RESULTS: Immediate postoperative radiographs in dorsoventral view showed a radiolucent area at the extraction wound. A decreased radiolucency was observed on the radiographs taken at 6 weeks postoperative. Histological examination showed formation of woven bone within the extraction socket. The percentage of newly formed bone within the extraction socket, measured by the histometry, showed no statistically significant difference among the values of the three groups (Kruskal-Wallis'test p>0.05) (group 1: 52.54 +/- 15.46, group 2: 50.51 +/- 5.01, group 3: 51.85 +/- 9.52). CONCLUSION: The bone regeneration observed in the extraction sockets filled with autogenous cancellous bone or autogenous cortical bone chips was similar to that observed in the control sites, given an observation period of 6 weeks after extraction of the mandibular canine tooth.