Topography of periodontally involved human root surfaces after different chemical treatment modalities: an in vitro scanning electron microscopic study

The significance of chemical and conservative treatments of cemental tissue proximal to periodontal pockets has been pointed out in recent years. This in vitro scanning electron microscopy (SEM) study aimed to investigate the surface effects of topical applications of 0.1% cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) and 2% sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and polishing on the periodontally involved root surfaces of human teeth. Ten single-rooted teeth from 8 patients with advanced adult periodontitis were included. Following extraction, any calculus was removed with extreme care to preserve as much cementum as possible. Eighty root specimens were prepared. Fresh solutions of CPC and SLS were applied for 1, 3 and 5 minutes each to 10 segments of root cementum. A total of 20 segments formed the polished (P) and control (C) groups, respectively. The results showed that the surfaces treated with CPC or SLS differed considerably from polished and control specimens. Depending on time, the surface coating was partly or wholly removed, leaving a nodular cementum structure, uncovering a fibrillar collagen substrate and the openings of dentinal tubules. Scarce debris was present on both control and polished surfaces, whereas bacteria were observed only on the control specimens. In view of these results, further definitive in vitro and in vivo research must be done to determine the advantages of chemical treatment and its effect on periodontal regeneration.