Experimental Alveolar Bone Atrophy Produced by Ascorbic Acid Deficiency and Its Relation to Pyorrhea Alveolaris.

Abstract

The essential characteristic of the diffuse atrophy type of pyorrhea (pyorrhea alveolaris), which is an inability of the peridental tissue to withstand functional stress, has been reproduced in guinea pigs maintained on diets deficient in ascorbic acid. The histological details in bone and connective tissue of these scorbutic animals are identical with those found in human peridental disease of this type.