Trauma and progression of marginal periodontitis in squirrel monkeys

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Abstract
Previous studies have shown that repeated trauma to the interproximal periodontium induced by jiggling of teeth resulted in alveolar bone loss and, when combined with periodontitis, increased the amount of bone loss compared with periodontitis alone. This study was designed to answer the question on the reversibility of such bone loss. Eight squirrel monkeys were divided into two equal groups. In four animals, the mandibular second and third bicuspids were jiggled mesio‐distally for ten weeks. On one side a marginal periodontitis was induced at the same time. In the other four animals the same procedures were instituted except these animals were killed ten weeks after jiggling had been stopped. Step‐serial histoiogial sections of the coronal interproximal area were analyzed. Loss in height of alveolar bone and percentage of bone occupying the coronal area were measured histometrically. When jiggling was stopped, a significant reversibility of bone loss occurred. However, no such reversal was seen in the presence of periodontitis. It was postulated that presence of an existing marginal inflammation inhibited the potential for bone regeneration.