Association between bone turnover markers and alveolar socket healing rate: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to examine the relationship between bone turnover markers (BTMs) and alveolar socket healing rate, and determine if bone turnover markers may be applied to implant treatment.

METHODS

The study included 21 patients (9 men and 12 women; average age, 61.1 ± 9.8 years) who were scheduled to undergo implant treatment after maxillary or mandibular molar extractions. Alveolar bone density was measured immediately after extraction, 2 months later, and 6 months later using the AI-equipped image analysis system. The healing rate was calculated by dividing the change in bone density by the number of days passed. The following bone turnover markers were measured: procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide (P1NP), bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP), bone resorption markers I collagen cross-linked N-telopeptide (NTx), and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP-5b).

RESULTS

The alveolar socket healing rate over 6 months did not significantly correlate with each BTM. However, P1NP and NTx did show a significant positive association, while TRACP-5b showed a positive association tendency during the first 2 months following extraction.

CONCLUSION

The bone formation marker (P1NP) and bone resorption markers (NTx and TRACP-5b) were associated with the alveolar socket healing rate in the initial months after extraction. This finding suggests that the early period of alveolar socket healing after extraction might be faster in individuals with a high bone turnover.