Healing after root reimplantation in the monkey.

The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the regenerative potential of the periodontal tissues following tooth reimplantation using a model which excluded the dentogingival epithelium from the process of healing. Maxillary and mandibular incisors, premolars and molars of 5 monkeys were used. Following root filling of all experimental teeth, the teeth were divided into 3 experimental groups. In 1 group, the teeth were extracted following the elevation of full thickness flaps. The crowns were separated from the roots at the level of the buccal cemento-enamel junction and the roots immediately reimplanted into their sockets. The flaps were replaced and sutured to accomplish complete coverage of the roots. In a 2nd group, the teeth were subjected to the same experimental procedure, but in addition, the buccal alveolar bone was removed to about half its original height prior to root reimplantation. The teeth of the 3rd group were subjected to identical experimental procedures as for group II with the addition that the buccal root surfaces were planed to the level of the surgically created bone crest. The animals were sacrificed after 6 months of healing. The jaws were removed and histological specimens prepared for microscopic examination. The results showed that a complete fibrous re-attachment formed onto roots on which the original periodontal ligament tissue was preserved. This occurred irrespective of whether the roots were reimplanted into sockets with normal (group I) or reduced (group II) bone height. When the original periodontal ligament tissue was removed by root planing before reimplantation (group III), healing resulted in a significant amount of new connective tissue attachment. However, coronal to the newly formed fibrous attachment, the root surface frequently showed signs of resorption and particularly so in those roots which remained covered by the soft tissue during the entire course of healing. In the majority of the roots which perforated the covering soft tissue during the early phase of healing, the dentogingival epithelium had migrated apically into contact with the coronally generated fibrous attachment. In these cases, root resorption was never discernible. New bone formation occurred to a variable extent in the roots of groups II-III. No relationship was found, however, between the amount of connective tissue reattachment or new attachment and newly formed alveolar bone, which in turn indicates that bone tissue regrowth and periodontal ligament regeneration are unrelated phenomena.