IMPACT OF SIMVASTATIN-GEL FOAM COMBINATION ON BONE DENSITY AFTER MANDIBULAR THIRD MOLAR EXTRACTION

Aims: This randomized, prospective comparative study aimed to assess the effectiveness of locally applying 10 mg of simvastatin in promoting bone regeneration within the sockets of surgically extracted mandibular third molars, using CBCT to measure bone density one and three months after the procedure.
Materials and methods: The study was carried out over a period of eighteen months, involving 30 patients (14 males and 16 females). These cases were randomly assigned to two groups: 15 in the study group and 15 in the control group.
Following the surgical extraction of the mandibular third molars, the study group received a local application of a simvastatin and gel foam combination in the extraction sockets, while the control group was treated with gel foam alone.
After a period of one month and three months, bone density in the healing sockets was assessed and compared between the two groups using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 23.0.
Results:Three months after the procedure, CBCT measurements revealed that the mean bone density in the study group (247.772 ± 32.635 Hounsfield Units) was significantly greater than that in the control group (207.622 ± 18.515 Hounsfield Units). The difference in bone density between the two groups was statistically significant (p-value=0.029).
Conclusion: Applying a combination of 10 mg simvastatin powder and gel foam locally in the sockets of surgically removed mandibular third molars can enhance bone density and is considered a safe method for preserving the alveolar ridge following tooth extraction.