Attachment of human gingival fibroblasts to periodontally involved root surface following scaling and/or etching procedures: a scanning electron microscopy study.

This study evaluated, in vitro, fibroblast attachment to periodontally involved root surfaces which were either root planed or acid/chelated by different agents. Specimens were divided into 3 groups of 12 specimens each. The root surfaces were root planed with a Gracey 7/8 curette, an EMS or an Amdent piezo-electric scaler and treated with saline, citric acid, tetracycline hydrochloride or EDTA to produce different surface textures. They were then cultured with fibroblasts for 72 h and examined by scanning electron microscopy. There was a significantly greater number of fibroblasts attached to specimens treated with citric acid, tetracycline and EDTA than to those root planed only. Furthermore, fibroblasts were more likely to attach to rough-surfaced than to smooth-surfaced specimens.