Disturbances in bone remodeling during the progress of hamster periodontitis

This study was undertaken to follow the changes in bone remodeling during the progress of periodontitis in the hamster. The comparison of quantitative and morphological data showed that the disease is associated with an important disturbance of the remodeling process. The development of bone resorption. preceded by the arrest of the physiological bone formation, is associated with an increase in the extent in reversal (=empty) lacunae. Bone formation refilled only a small number of these lacunae, although in some cases the formation reaction could be vigorous. These events coexisted and reoccurred with marked variations in space and in time, regardless of the time of exposure to the disease. Moreover, the onset at the bone level of the disease was characterized by an initial and precocious increase in bone volume, immediately subjacent to the inflammed gingival tissues.