Is Sodium Alginate an Alternative Hemostatic Material in the Tooth Extraction Socket?

Abstract

Alginate has been used in wound dressing and tissue engineering. In this study, our designed alginate sponge was examined for use as an optimal occlusion material. Alginate powder was mixed in double-distilled water (3.0% w/v), sterilized and lyophilized to become a sponge. Sixty Wistar rats were undergone the right mandibular incisor extraction and divided into 3 groups: the first group received an alginate sponge; the second received a gelatin sponge; and the third was un-treated. The mandibles were retrieved after 1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks and subjected for bleeding measurement, radiographic and histological analyses.
Alginate and Gelatin groups showed significantly shorter bleeding time until hemostasis than control. In Alginate group, as well as the other groups, bone formation was observed from 2 weeks post operation. The extraction socket receiving alginate was finally filled with osteoblasts and bone, suggesting that alginate might be considered as a candidate for not only cartilage but bone generation.