Ultrastructural Study on Cell Attachment of Cultured Fibroblasts to Treated Root Surfaces (1)

The purpose of this study was to examine the morphological features of cell attachment to the root surface following root-planing (RP) and treatment with citric acid (CA). Each of ten extracted human periodontally diseased teeth was split longitudinally into three pieces for use as samples. The first group of samples was left untreated, the second was RP and the third was treated with CA following RP. Root fragments of the three groups were placed in 35-mm petridishes and seeded with human gingival fibroblasts. After incubation for 4 weeks, the morphological features of the root surfaces were observed by transmission electron microscopy. The following results were obtained: 1. The fibroblasts accumulating in several layers were spread on the root surfaces of both the RP and CA groups. 2. Extracellular matrix and microfibrils were observed in the space between the root surface and fibroblasts of the CA group, in which the space was wider than that of the RP group. 3. The features of cell attachment on the treated cementum surfaces did not differ from those of treated dentin.