Effects of boric acid on experimental periodontitis and alveolar bone loss in rats

ObjectiveThe goal of the present study was to evaluate the histopathologic and morphometric effects of systemic boric acid in a rat periodontitis model.DesignTwenty-four Wistar rats were divided into three groups of eight animals each: non-ligated (NL), ligature only (LO), and ligature and treated with boric acid (BA) (3 mg/kg per day for 11 days). A 4/0 silk suture was placed in a subgingival position around the mandibular first molars; after 11 days the rats were sacrificed, and changes in alveolar bone levels were measured clinically and tissues were histopathologically examined to assess the differences amongst the study groups.ResultsThe ratio of presence of inflammatory cell infiltration (ICI) and osteoclast number in the LO group was significantly higher than that of the NL and BA groups (p < 0.05). The ratio of presence of osteoblastic activity in the LO group was significantly lower than that of the NL and BA groups (p < 0.05). Alveolar bone loss was also significantly higher in the LO group compared to the BA and NL groups (p < 005).ConclusionsThis study has demonstrated that systemic administration of boric acid reduced periodontal inflammation and alveolar bone loss in periodontal disease in rats.