RESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the preventive effect of ozonated oil on the development of MRONJ-like lesions at tooth extraction sites in rats submitted to zoledronic acid treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve rats were divided into two groups. Each rat received an injection of zoledronic acid solution once a week for 5 weeks before having its upper first molar extracted. In group 1, the clotted socket was maintained, while in the group 2, the socket was treated with ozonated oil for 10 min/day during 3 days. After euthanasia, block resection was performed for histological analysis. Necrotic bone was defined as the area of the bone with empty osteocyte lacunae and vital bone as the area with osteocyte-occupied lacunae. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in the average area of vital bone (p = 0.2248) and the average area of necrotic bone (p = 0.1208). However, the average area of vital bone in group 1 was smaller (24.1 ± 2.9 cells/cm2) than in group 2 (26.8 ± 4.2 cells/cm2), and the average area of necrotic bone in group 1 was higher (7.0 ± 2.5 cells/cm2) than in group 2 (4.0 ± 1.1 cells/cm2), indicating that ozonated oil may reduce the development of osteonecrosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that ozonated oil might prevent MRONJ-like lesions at tooth extraction sites in rats submitted to a disease induction protocol. Further research should be conducted to confirm this hypothesis. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: MRONJ has been reported as a complication of surgical dental procedures, and there are currently no predictable preventive therapies.