Cell-seeding of periodontal ligament fibroblasts. A novel technique to create new attachment. A pilot study

This study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that seeded periodontal ligament cells are able to create new attachment. In one beagle dog, a premolar was removed and scrapings of the ligament were cultured. Artificial periodontal defects were made and the cultured ligament cells were seeded on the planed root surfaces and covered with muco-periosteal flaps. The opposite side served as control. After 4 months, the dog was sacrificed and histological and electron microscopical sections were prepared. The seeded root surfaces were almost completely covered with cementoblasts, whereas in controls, epithelial down-growth could be observed. We conclude that seeding of periodontal ligament cells could be a promising technique to create new connective tissue attachment.