[Can attachment gain be achieved by means of orthodontic measures?]

The influence of intrusive movement was analyzed in an animal experiment. The results indicate that the periodontal status previously observed might in fact be related to a clinically significant amount of new attachment. Since the intrusion is carried out in case of horizontal bone loss, this treatment is specially focusing on the situation which has the most doubtful prognosis by means of the current new attachment procedures. A possible explanation of the attachment gain demonstrated may be that the stretching of the periodontal ligament fibres at the marginal level generates a sort of natural filter reducing the down growth of the epithelium. Another possible explanation may be that the orthodontic stimulation increased the turnover in the periodontal ligament and thereby improved the chances of the periodontal ligament to repopulate the previous infected root surface. There is, on the basis of the results presented reason to believe that a combination of a prevented colonarization from gingival tissue and a stimulation of the periodontal ligament cells showed open new perspective in the treatment of heavily involved periodontal patients.