HISTOLOGICAL AND HISTOMORPHOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECT OF OZONE THERAPY ASSOCIATED OR WITHOUT PENTOXYPHYLLINE AND TOCOPHEROL IN THE PREVENTION OF DRUG-INDUCED OSTEONECROSIS OF THE JAWS

• Grant number: 25/01853-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2025
• End date: December 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry - Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Francisley Ávila Souza
• Grantee: Lilian Maria de Matos Paulino
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia (FOA). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araçatuba. Araçatuba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaws (MRONJ) is a challenging clinical condition often associated with the use of bisphosphonates, such as zoledronic acid. This condition is particularly concerning in patients undergoing invasive dental procedures, such as tooth extractions, which serve as risk factors for the development of MRONJ. The objective of this project is to evaluate the effect of ozone therapy, with or without pentoxifylline and tocopherol (PENTO protocol), as a preventive measure against MRONJ following the extraction of the right mandibular first molar in rats treated with zoledronic acid.A total of 32 male Wistar albino rats will be used. These animals will receive four applications of 0.035 mg/kg zoledronic acid (ZOL) via caudal administration at 15-day intervals. Afterward, their right mandibular molars will be extracted. Following the extraction, the animals will continue ZOL treatment under the same protocol until euthanasia. The animals will be divided into four groups (n=8) based on the therapies to be applied: SAL (saline solution - no ZOL will be administered, and no therapies will be applied); ZOL (zoledronate - clot, no therapies will be applied); OZO (ozone therapy, 0.7 mg/kg of ozone gas administered intraperitoneally every other day starting immediately postoperatively and continuing for two weeks); and OZO+PENTO (ozone therapy combined with pentoxifylline and tocopherol, in which 0.7 mg/kg of ozone gas will be administered intraperitoneally every other day along with pentoxifylline at 50 mg/kg/day intraperitoneally and ¿-tocopherol at 80 mg/kg/day orally via gavage, starting seven days after the extraction and continuing for 14 days). For in vivo analysis of decalcified sections, 32 animals will be used 28 days after tooth extraction, the animals will be euthanized for evaluation, which will include histometric and histomorphometric analyses. (AU)