Topography of root surfaces treated in vitro with citric acid, elastase and hyaluronidase. A scanning electron...

Sixteen extracted human teeth were separated into two groups, root planed, and treated with either elastase or hyaluronidase following acid demineralization. The duration of enzyme application varied from 5 to 20 minutes. From scanning electron micrographs the following was concluded: (1) The cemental collagen network is composed of previously described extrinsic and intrinsic fiber systems. (2) Root planing, using tactile sense as the final criteria, does not always result in complete elimination of contaminants. (3) Citric acid (pH = 1), applied for 3 to 4 minutes, is an effective means of exposing cemental collagen. (4) Qualitatively, the enzyme treatment subsequent to acid demineralization seemed to result in more effective exposure of the collagen mantle of cementum. (5) Further definitive research must be done to determine, both the usefulness of enzymatic treatment in vitro and in vivo and the optimum enzyme concentrations and duration of application.