The influence of vitamin C on the periodontal membrane space-A radiographic study

One of the findings in experimentally induced scurvy has been an irregularity of the periodontal membrane shadow in radiographs. A similar irregularity has been described in relation to early periodontal disease. This study investigated the effect of high dosage vitamin C on a group of young (average age 29) patients drawn at random from practice. Areas of irregularity in the membrane shadow have shown an improvement of outline in a significant number of treated cases as compared with controls in a double blind investigation and the author suggests that this represents a consolidation of the collagen element of the membrane with possible increased resistance to disease.A special holder was used to facilitate duplication of the position of the pre and post therapy films and examples are shown.