Effect of root surface alterations on periodontal healing.

A companion study reported that new connective tissue attachment did not occur to a surgically denuded root surface when transplanted into a normal periodontium. It was the purpose of this study to evaluate periodontal healing adjacent to a citric acid treated denuded root surface. In four squirrel monkeys, 12 teeth were extracted and reimplanted after surgical denudation and citric acid conditioning of the coronal root surface. The study design provided three teeth for histologic analysis at 1, 3, 7 and 21 days after reimplantation. One and 3 days after reimplantation a zone of fibrin containing inflammatory cells and erythrocytes was interposed between the root surface and remaining periodontal fibers. The fibrin network appeared to be attached to the root surface by arcade-like formations. The apical termination of the epithelium was located at the coronal extent of the fibrin zone. Granulation tissue and new fibers were aggregating along and perpendicular to the root surface at 7 days, and new connective tissue attachment had been established at 21 days. Extensive root resorption was present along the intra-alveolar part of the root surface. Epithelium had not migrated apically along the denuded root surfaces. The results indicated that citric acid treatment of denuded root surfaces resulted in new connective tissue attachment, and the response appeared to be dependent upon early establishment of fibrin linkage with the root surface.