Effect of atorvastatin gel on clinical parameters and bone histology in alveolar ridge preservation: A randomized clinical trial.

Background The aim of the study was to evaluate the dimensional changes of the alveolar ridge in postextraction sockets filled with 1.2% atorvastatin (ATV) gel covered with a collagen membrane.

Materials and Methods This study is a split-mouth randomized clinical trial. A total of 30 postextraction sockets of single-root teeth of 15 patients were randomly allocated into two groups: (a) socket filling with 1.2% ATV gel and covered with an absorbable collagen membrane (n = 15) and (b) socket covered with a collagen membrane (n = 15). Four clinical indices - the width and height of sockets and the width and thickness of keratinized gingiva - were measured at baseline and 2 months after the intervention. Two histological parameters, namely the percentage of osteogenesis and the thickness of bone trabeculae, were also measured 2 months after the intervention. Data were analyzed by Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon tests using SPSS software (P ≤ 0.05).

Results Two months after extraction, dimensional changes in height (P = 0.07), width of the alveolar socket (P = 0.381), and keratinized gingival thickness (P = 1) showed no significant difference between the two groups. In both the groups, the keratinized gingival width increased significantly, but there was no significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.347). The percentage of lamellar bone formation in the test group was about 28% higher than that of the control group (P = 0.098), and the thickness of trabeculae in both the groups was similar (P = 0.78).

Conclusion Although 1.2% ATV gel increased lamellar bone formation and reduced dimensional changes in postextraction sockets, the differences were not significant compared with the control group.