RESUMO
A total of 21 albino adult male rats were used in this study. 15 rats were classified into 3 study groups, 5 rats each, while the remaining 6 rats were used as a control, 2 for each study group. Group I: 20% ethanol was taken for 3 months. Group II: 20% ethanol was taken for 4 months. Group III: 20% ethanol was taken for 7 months. The results revealed that alcohol was responsible for osteoblastic dysfunction which resulted in osteoporosis. Osteoporosis appeared in the form of thin bone trabeculae with hypocellularity. Also, X-ray films showed that the abuse of alcohol cause diminished bone mineral density. These results were progressively increased from group I, in which rats were taking 20% ethanol for 3 months to group III, in which rats were taken ethanol for 7 months. From this study, it can be concluded that the dentists should be very careful during even minor surgical operation in the jaws of alcoholic patients to avoid the probability of jaw fracture as a result of osteoporosis