Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.15644/asc60/2/6
Histomorphometric Evaluation of Socket Preservation Healing Using Xenogeneic Bone Substitute Combined with Statin: A Prospective Split-Mouth Clinical Pilot Study
Tomislav Katanec
; University of Zagreb School of Dental Medicine, Department of Oral Surgery, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Luka Šimunović
orcid.org/0000-0003-2848-6041
; University of Zagreb School of Dental Medicine, Department of Orthodontics, Zagreb, Croatia
*
Robert Likić
; University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Igor Smojver
; University of Zagreb School of Dental Medicine, Department of Oral Surgery, Zagreb, Croatia
Stjepanka Lešić
; J. J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health Osijek, Department of Dental Medicine, Osijek, Croatia
Ivica Pelivan
; University of Zagreb School of Dental Medicine, Department of Removable Prosthodontics, Zagreb, Croatia
Dragana Gabrić
; University of Zagreb School of Dental Medicine, Department of Oral Surgery, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
*
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
Objective: Statins exhibit pleiotropic effects on bone metabolism, including osteogenic and angiogenic activity. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate whether local application of simvastatin combined with a bovine-derived xenogeneic bone substitute enhances histomorphometric outcomes of socket preservation compared with the bone substitute alone after a three-month healing period. Materials and Methods: This prospective split-mouth clinical study included nine patients requiring bilateral tooth extraction. One socket was treated with cerabone® plus alone (control), while the contralateral socket received cerabone® plus combined with locally applied simvastatin (1 mg/0.2 mL saline). Bone core biopsies were harvested three months after grafting and analyzed histomorphometrically. The proportions of newly formed bone (NB/TV), residual bone substitute material (BSM/TV), and connective tissue (CT/TV) were quantified. Paired t-tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used for statistical analysis. Results: Histomorphometric analysis demonstrated a similar tissue composition in both groups. Connective tissue represented the predominant component in the control and statin-treated sites (59.1 ± 12.0% and 64.3 ± 9.4%, respectively; p = 0.31). Newly formed bone accounted for 31.0 ± 15.5% in the control group and 26.2 ± 11.6% in the statin group (p = 0.45). Residual bone substitute material showed comparable values between groups (9.9 ± 8.5% vs. 9.5 ± 9.7%; p = 0.91). No statistically significant differences were observed. Conclusions: The addition of locally applied simvastatin to a bovine-derived xenogeneic bone substitute did not result in significant histomorphometric differences in socket preservation after three months. At the tested dose and delivery method, simvastatin did not enhance early mineralized tissue formation compared with the bone substitute alone.
Keywords
HydroxymethylglutarylCoA Reductase Inhibitors; Tooth Socket; Bone Substitutes; Bone Regeneration; Wound Healing; Statin; Socket preservation; Bone regeneration; Xenograft; Histomorphometry
Hrčak ID:
347618
URI
Publication date:
13.6.2026.
Visits: 205 *