EXPERIMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF EFFECT OF A THERAPEUTIC AND PROPHYLACTIC COMPLEX ON THE NUMBER OF CARIOUS CAVITIES AND THE DEPTH OF TOOTH LESIONS IN RATS UNDER COMBINED EXPERIMENTAL MODELING OF DENTAL CARIES AND GINGIVITIS

Abstract

Combined experimental modeling of dental caries and gingivitis provides a framework for evaluating the cariespreventive efficacy of a therapeutic and prophylactic complex in the presence of concomitant gingival involvement. The number of carious cavities and the depth of tooth lesions are complementary indicators reflecting the extent of the carious process and the severity of hard tissue destruction. Aim of the study. To experimentally assess the effect of a therapeutic and prophylactic complex on the extent and depth of carious tooth lesions in rats under combined modeling of dental caries and gingivitis. Materials and methods. The study involved 30 onemonth- old male Wistar rats allocated to three groups of 10 animals each: an intact group, a combined pathology group, and a combined pathology group receiving the therapeutic and prophylactic complex. Dental caries was induced using a cariogenic diet, and gingivitis was modeled by oral administration of nifedipine at a dose of 5 mg/kg. The experiment lasted 30 days. The number of carious cavities per rat and the depth of tooth lesions were determined. Results. Compared with the intact group, the combined pathology group showed an increase in the number of carious cavities from 3.4 ± 0.1 to 8.9 ± 0.3 and in lesion depth from 3.7 ± 0.1 to 9.0 ± 0.6 points (p < 0.001). In animals receiving the complex, these indicators were 3.5 ± 0.2 and 3.4 ± 0.2 points, respectively, and were lower than those in the combined pathology group (p₁ < 0.001). Conclusions. Administration of the therapeutic and prophylactic complex for 30 days under combined modeling of dental caries and gingivitis was associated with a 2.5-fold reduction in the number of carious cavities and a 2.6-fold reduction in lesion depth compared with the untreated pathology group