[Exposed cementum and root surfacing]

Plaque exposed cementum presents structure alterations and becomes cytotoxic. The purpose of this review is to synthetize the actual datas about these cementum modifications and treatment by root planing. It appears that root planing does not eliminate all the subgingival calculus. Endotoxins are rather easily removed but roots are not completely detoxified. Treatment of the exposed cementum could evaluate to a less severe root planing and completed by a detoxification with chemical agents.