Exposure of suckling rats to hexavalent chromium (CrVI) alters bone formation at the base of the alveolus causing a delay in tooth eruption.

Objectives: Hexavalent chromium (CrVI)-exposure of suckling rats has been shown to delay tooth eruption. However, the effects of CrVI-exposure on bone formation at the base of the alveolus, which provides a motive force for tooth eruption in the early stages of the process, remain unknown. The present work sought to evaluate the effect of CrVI-exposure on bone formation at the base of the alveolus during the intraosseous stage of tooth eruption in suckling rats, using histomorphometric and immunohistochemical studies.