Healing after treatment of periodontal intraosseous defects. II. Effect of citric acid conditioning of the root surface.

Citric acid conditioning of the root surface as a supplement to replaced flap surgery of intraosseous periodontal defects was evaluated. Thirteen patients and a total of 45 proximal defects with residual probing pocket depth greater than or equal to 6 mm after initial preparation were used. The effect of treatment was studied in matched subsamples of the total material including one acid-treated and one nonacid-treated defect from each subject. The results demonstrated that an average gain of probing attachment level amounting to 2.l0 mm was obtained following acid treatment as compared to 1.1-1.2 mm for the nonacid-treated controls. Corresponding figures for gain or probing bone level were 1.2-1.3 mm for acid treatment and 0.8-0.9 mm for controls. The clinical significance of these findings was discussed.