The effect of topical citric acid application on the healing of experimental furcation defects in dogs

Periodontal furcation pockets were created in the mandibular premolar teeth in eight Labarador retriever dogs. Six months later, a surgical debridement procedure aimed at closing the furcation defects was carried out. On either the right or left side in each dog, a cotton pledget saturated with citric acid (pH 1) was inserted into the furcation for 3 minutes. One tooth in each animal was left untreated. Block biopsies were removed after 6 weeks and processed for histological evaluation. All of the non‐acid treated and the unoperated teeth revealed a patent, epithelialized furcation defect, whereas 21 of 23 acid‐treated furcations showed closure of the furcation in mesio‐distal sections. The instrumented root surface was covered with a thin layer of cementum to which periodontal fibers were attached. The bone level was significantly higher in the acid‐conditioning of the root surface may increase the rate of success of new‐attachment procedures and does not seem to have an adverse dffect o soft tissue healing or bone regeneration.