Healing after application of tissue-adhesive material to denuded and citric acid-treated root surfaces

This study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of a commercially available tissue adhesive upon healing of the coronal periodontium. In four squirrel monkeys, 24 teeth were extracted, and the coronal third of the roots planed free of fibers and cementum. Eight teeth were replanted without further alteration and eight were coated with tissue adhesive prior to replantation. In the remaining eight teeth, the planed surface was decalcified, coated with tissue adhesive and replanted. Histological observations were made at 1 and 7 days after replantation. In the teeth replanted after root planing alone and root planing plus tissue adhesive, epithelium migrated apically and was within the ligament space lining the denuded root at 7 days. In contrast, those teeth which were decalcified prior to application of tissue adhesive demonstrated fiber attachment to the planed root surface and little or no epithelial downgrowth.