Inflammation of Mouth

Subjects who are in need of extraction of a posterior tooth will be recruited for this study. Prior to extraction, periodontal clinical markers of inflammation, body-mass index and dental radiographs will be measured/taken. The posterior tooth will be atraumatically extracted and a small soft tissue biopsy of the extraction site will be taken. At the two week follow-up, sutures will be removed and another small biopsy of soft tissue will be taken. Subjects will be seen again at 3 months for a final collection of clinical data and radiographs.