Atorvastatin improves postextraction wound healing and decreases inflammation in rats previously treated with...

Bisphosphonates are widely used antiresorptive agents for osteoporosis, metastatic bone disease, and other disorders of bone metabolism, but their use may lead to medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ), a condition associated with impaired post-extraction healing. Statins, beyond their cholesterol-lowering effects, exhibit pleiotropic properties including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and bone-regenerative activity, suggesting a potential therapeutic role in counteracting bisphosphonate-induced complications. The present study investigated the effects of local and systemic administration of atorvastatin on post-extraction wound healing, inflammatory markers, and antioxidant capacity in Wistar rats pretreated with zoledronic acid. Thirty rats were randomized into six groups, including positive and negative controls, and four experimental groups receiving different combinations of zoledronic acid and atorvastatin. Macroscopic evaluation, cone-beam computed tomography, cytokine assays, and enzymatic analyses were performed. Rats treated solely with zoledronic acid demonstrated impaired healing, necrotic bone exposure, elevated TNF-α and IL-1β, and reduced catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione reductase activity. In contrast, both local and systemic atorvastatin significantly improved wound healing, reduced cytokine levels, and restored antioxidant capacity, with effects comparable or superior to the positive control group. These findings suggest that atorvastatin may mitigate zoledronic acid-induced oxidative and inflammatory imbalance, supporting its potential application for wound healing.