A comparison in vitro of fibroblast attachment to resected root-ends

Weston GD, Moule AJ, Bartold PM. A comparison in vitro of fibroblast attachment to resected root‐ends. International Endodontics Journal, 32, 444–449 1999. Aim The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of surface morphology of root ends resected with various bur configurations on fibroblast attachment. Methodology Seventy‐two human single‐rooted teeth were collected and decoronated. The root canals were instrumented, and then obturated with thermoplasticized gutta‐percha using AH‐26 as the sealer. The roots were randomly divided into eight different groups, and apical root‐end resections were performed using eight different instruments, which included high and low speed burs and a scalpel blade. After each root was resected, the surface area of the root end was measured. Cultured human periodontal ligament fibroblasts were radiolabelled and then allowed to attach, in vitro, to the root‐ends. Cell attachment to the resected root‐ends was determined by counting in a liquid scintillation system and expressed as the number of decays per min/mm2 (DPM/mm2) of root surface. Results There was no significant difference in fibroblast attachment to the root‐ends prepared with various instruments. Conclusions These findings indicate that the choice of instrument for root‐end resection has little influence on the initial attachment of fibroblasts, and thus may have little effect on healing following root‐end resection.