A scanning electron microscopic study of topically demineralized uncovered root surfaces

PLEASE NOTE: This work is protected by copyright. Downloading is restricted to the BU community: please click Download and log in with a valid BU account to access. If you are the author of this work and would like to make it publicly available, please contact open-help@bu.edu.Black and white photographs included.Thesis (M.Sc.D.)--Boston University, Henry M. Goldman School of Graduate Dentistry (Periodontics), 1978.Bibliography: p. 56-66.Connective tissue reattachment procedures are unpredictable by today’s standards of periodontal therapy. Citric acid demineralization has been used on exposed root surfaces to enhance the new attachment potential of the root to soft tissue. It has been demonstrated that fibers left attached to surgically exposed root surfaces will reattach to soft tissue fibers during healing and enhance the post op attachment level. It may be possible to use citric acid to unmask collagen fibers from root surfaces uncovered by periodontal disease and to unite these fibers from the root with soft tissue collagen fibers by the healing by scar mechanism of reattachment. An enhanced attachment level can be created making reconstructive periodontal therapy a more predictable course of treatment than is now realized. Extracted human teeth which were either root planed and etched or etched without root planing were observed for available fibers and alterations on their root surfaces by scanning electron microscopy. Both etched and unetched cut and polished dentin surfaces were also examined for available fibers and alterations of their surfaces by scanning electron microscopy. Etching was accomplished by using 20% citric acid a pH l.0 for 2 minutes on the root surfaces to be examined. [TRUNCATED