ACQUIRED EDENTULISM AND ALVEOLAR BONE RESORPTION: USE OF BONE GRAFTING MATERIALS COMBINED WITH SIMVASTATIN FOR POST-EXTRACTION SOCKET PRESERVATION AND ALVEOLAR BONE RECONSTRUCTION - A LITERATURE REVIEW

ABSTRACT Background: Acquired edentulism and subsequent alveolar bone loss are increasingly important problems in contemporary dentistry. Insufficient alveolar bone volume often complicates dental implant placement and prosthetic rehabilitation. This literature review examines current studies addressing the aetiology, prevalence, and health effects of acquired edentulism, methods for the rehabilitation of dental arch defects, approaches to alveolar bone preservation and reconstruction, surgical techniques, bone grafting materials and strategies for their improvement. Objective: To analyse the literature on acquired edentulism, post-extraction alveolar bone resorption, methods for rehabilitating dental arch defects, the use of bone grafting materials for post-extraction socket preservation and reconstruction of lost alveolar bone volume, and approaches to improving bone substitutes, including their modification with bioactive components and pharmacological agents, particularly Simvastatin, which can stimulate osteoblastic activity and osteogenesis, and also to identify promising directions for further research. Study design: Literature review Materials and Methods: This literature review was based on 70 scientific articles identified using Google Scholar, PubMed, Wiley Online Library, ResearchGate, ScienceDirect, Elsevier, MDPI, Springer Nature, eLibrary, and CyberLeninka. Searches were conducted using keywords relevant to the review topic, with particular attention given to studies published within the previous five years. Results: The literature review therefore confirmed the relevance and high prevalence of acquired edentulism and post-extraction alveolar bone resorption. An especially important area is the use of bone grafting materials for post-extraction socket preservation and alveolar bone reconstruction, together with investigation of their effects on bone regeneration when combined with bioactive agents, growth factors, and pharmacological compounds, particularly Simvastatin, which possesses osteogenesis-stimulating properties. Conclusions: The reviewed literature indicates that acquired edentulism and post-extraction alveolar bone resorption are clinically relevant and widespread problems. A promising approach to restoring lost alveolar bone volume is the further investigation and development of improved bone grafting materials with osteoconductive and pronounced osteoinductive properties. These properties may be achieved by locally incorporating biological and pharmacological agents that stimulate osteogenesis and improve the rate and quality of bone regeneration. Simvastatin is one such pharmacological agent with osteogenesis-stimulating potential and is currently under active investigation. Keywords: tooth loss; alveolar bone loss; bone regeneration; alveolar bone grafting; Simvastatin.