Alveolar wound healing after x-irradiation: a histologic, radiographic, and histometric study.

Healing of extraction wounds in rats following cephalic irradiation was studied by histologic, radiographic, and histometric methods 14 days after tooth extraction. Irradiation was given at 0, 3, and 7 days after surgery in doses of either 15, 20, or 30 Gy. No significant differences were seen with the different doses given seven days post-extraction. However, socket healing was delayed when irradiation was given immediately and three days after extraction. On the basis of these observations, it is recommended that radiation not begin until at least one week after the extraction of teeth.