Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Oral and Dental Medicine - Department of Oral Biology

Pericoronitis is the inflammation of the soft tissues surrounding the crown of a partially erupted tooth. It generally does not arise in teeth that erupt normally; usually, it is seen in teeth that are partially impacted or slowly erupting , and this is most commonly affecting the lower third molar.The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the effect of topical application of simvastatin on inflamed operculum through monitoring the histological & immunohistochemical changes in the pericoronal flap tissue. The topical application of Simvastatin versus normal saline solution was done in an attempt to reach an answer for whether such treatment is effective in relieving such condition or not.Materials and Methods:Thirty male volunteers, age 18-28 years old & non- smokers suffering from pericoronitis & free from any systemic diseases. All subjects were instructed not to administer any systemic medication ( anti-inflammatory drugs or antibiotics ) during the study period to be confined to the topical treatment. They were divided into three groups as follows:Group 1 (Control): 10 volunteers not receiving any local treatment and immediate operculectomy was performed .Group 2 (experimental): 10 volunteers who received normal saline solution irrigation to the under surface of the operculum.Group 3 (experimental): 10 volunteers received irrigation as in Group 2 with 1.2 mg /0.1ml prepared simvastatin solution in distilled water. After two days of irrigation in both Group 2 (experimental) & Group 3 (experimental) ( saline & simvastatin respectively ), five volunteers were selected and operculectomy procedures were performed . Opercula were collected and prepared for examination .The remaining volunteers of both groups were recalled daily to repeat the irrigation procedure till the fourth day .On the fourth day , operculectomy procedures were performed to the remaining volunteers from both Group 2 (experimental) & Group 3 (experimental) . Specimens of the opercula were collected and treated as done after two days. Histological sections from collected specimens were prepared & stained by Hematoxylin & Eosin stain for routine examination in addition to immunohistochemical staining for localization of TNF-Ü and BMP-2

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