Effects of Tooth Storage Media on Periodontal Ligament Preservation



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Abstract

Background / Aims

An easily available tooth storage medium is required to preserve a tooth after avulsion. Milk and Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS) are recommended as tooth storage media, and egg white is also reported to be comparable with milk. The aim of the present study was to histologically and immunohistochemically evaluate the effect of different tooth storage media on the periodontal ligament (PDL) of extracted teeth.

Material and Methods

This experiment used HBSS, milk and egg white as tooth storage media. A total of ninety-six 6-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were used in these experiments. In each experiment, six rats were used for each medium and for the control group. Extracted rat molar teeth were immersed in these three different storage media for one-hour. In each medium, six samples (n=18) were fixed immediately, and the remaining samples (n= 54) were subcutaneously transplanted. In the control group (n=24), the extracted teeth were fixed or transplanted immediately after extraction. At day four, one week and two weeks after transplantation, the teeth were examined by radiographic, histological and immunohistochemical methods. The number of PDL cells in the storage media was also counted.

Results

Teeth immersed for one-hour in milk showed the thinnest PDL. Immunohistochemistry of periostin and CD68 labeling suggested degradation of the extracellular matrix in the PDL. In the media used for immersion, more PDL cells were observed in milk than in the other solutions. After transplantation, the HBSS and egg white groups maintained adequate thickness of PDLbut in the milk group, thinner PDL and ankylosis were observed.

Conclusion

Adequate thickness of PDL was maintained in the egg white group. Whereas, the milk group showed disturbance in the PDL, which may lead to ankylosis.

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