The role of the socket in the periodontal healing of replanted dogs' teeth stored in ViaSpan for extended periods

In a previous study on the extended storage of extracted dogs' teeth, it was hypothesized that changes in the socket environs ment might play a role in the periodontal healing of these teeth. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of the socket in the periodontal healing of replanted dogs' teeth. Extracted endodontically treated dogs' teeth were stored in ViaSpan for 6 hours and replanted into sockets after 6, 48 or 96 hours. Controls included teeth extracted and replanted immediately, 48-hour stored teeth replanted into 48-hour sockets and 96-hour stored teeth replanted into 96-hour sockets. After 6 months the dogs were killed and the teeth prepared for histologic evaluation according to Andreasen. Overall healing for the groups and healing for teeth within the groups were evaluated and compared. The best results were obtained when the teeth were replanted immediately. For the teeth stored in ViaSpan for 6 hours, complete healing decreased significantly as the age of the socket increased. In addition, the rate of replacement resorption increased significantly with increasing socket age for the 6-hour stored teeth. Forty-eight-hour stored teeth replanted into 48-hour sockets had the lowest healing rate with levels of inflammatory resorption not seen in the other groups. According to the results of this study, the socket environment plays an important role in the healing of replanted teeth in dogs.