Effect of vitamin C on bone formation in the expanded inter-premaxillary suture. Early bone changes

Aim The aim of this experimental study was to histomorphometrically evaluate the effects of vitamin C administration on bone formation in response to expansion of the rat inter-premaxillary suture. Materials and methods A total of 30 50- to 60-day old Wistar male rats were divided into three groups of equal number. The inter-premaxillary suture in each animal was expanded with a 0.49 N force applied to the upper incisors. At 24 h after appliance placement, control animals received saline solution (group I) and two groups were given a single dose of vitamin C using two different methods [locally into the suture (group II) and systemically via intramuscular injection (group III)]. The area of new bone (µm 2 ), the perimeter around the new bone (µm), Feret’s diameter (µm), and the percentage of new bone to non-ossified tissue (%) were measured and compared. Kruskal-Wallis and Tukey tests were used for statistical evaluation at the p