Effect of experimental traumatic occlusion on periodontal and pulpal blood flow

Fluorescent microspheres (FM) were used to visualize and semi-quantify flood flow in the periodontal ligament (PDL) and dental pulp during experimental traumatic occlusion of the maxillary and mandibular molar teeth in young rats. At different observation points FM were injected systemically, and the number of FM was counted in serial sections from the jaws in the PDL and pulp of the molar teeth in a fluorescent microscope. Blood flow was related to the number of FM in the tissues and in a reference blood sample. In the early stages an increase in blood flow in the PDL and dental pulp was found on the experimental side compared with the contralateral side. Furthermore, there was an increase in blood flow on both sides of the jaws compared with an unoperated control material. The study thus indicates that a local unilateral occlusal trauma initiates blood flow responses in the total molar dentition in rats.