Histometric Evaluation of Periodontal Surgery: III. The Effect of Bone Resection on the Connective Tissue Attachment Level

T he purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of surgical elimination of the osseous walls of angular bony defects on the connective tissue attachment and alveolar bone levels. Using a Rhesus monkey model, 36 periodontal pockets in four animals were operated on while the contralateral pockets served as unoperated controls. Plaque control was maintained until the animals were killed 1 year after surgery. Following routine processing, the interdental tissues were analyzed histometrically. Comparing measurements of surgically treated and untreated sites, resection of the osseous walls of interdentally located angular bony defects caused not only a reduction in the height of the alveolar bone but also a significant loss of connective tissue attachment. The procedure also resulted in the elimination of angular bony defects, intrabony pockets, and in addition, reduced the height of the interdental soft tissue.