Cytochemical and Histopathological Factors in Tooth Extraction Wound Healing

Abstract

The mechanisms of tooth extraction wound healing remain to be fully explored. Histological changes in wound healing at 5, 14 and 30 days after extraction and distribution of fibronectin and cytokeratins using immunocytochemical techniques were studied. Three mature mongrel dogs were used and thirty-six premolar extraction wounds were investigated. Five · day old sockets showed osteoblastic and os~eoclastic activity. Thirty day old sockets were filled with immature trabecular bone. Epithelial proliferation was noted in the five day wounds and was apparently complete by 14 days. Fibronectin was observed under the basement membrane of migrating epithelium at 5 days and in granulation tissues at 5 and 14 days. There was change in the cytokeratin expression of healing keratinocytes as indicated by PKK2 localization at basal and suprabasal epithelial cell layers in 5 and 30 day wounds. Our results indicate that fibronectin plays a major role in dog gingival healing. The change in cytokeratin expression might be related to the cells being in a hyperproliferative state as might be expected during wound healing.