title: The effectiveness of citric acid as an adjunct to surgical re-attachment procedures in humans.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to clinically evaluate the effect of citric acid on re-attachment and re-adaptation in conjunction with periodontal surgery. A split-mouth design was used in 10 patients involving 30 quadrants of surgery. A total of 120 teeth were treated. Each quadrant consisted of at least 2 teeth from cuspid to second molar. One quadrant was treated with a modified Widman flap alone while the root surfaces of the contralateral side were also treated with a 3 min application of citric acid. Immediately following hygienic phase and at 3 and 6 months postsurgically, the following measurements were taken in this sequence: gingival index, gingival crevicular fluid flow, plaque index, furcation involvement, level of attachment and probing depth. All the data were statistically analyzed using the paired t-test, chi 2 and Fisher exact probability test. The biometric results showed that both surgical techniques resulted in a loss of attachment in shallow pockets and a gain in deeper pockets. Both techniques resulted in similar amounts of recession and probing depth reduction at 6 months. Gingival index, plaque index and furcation values decreased at 3 and 6 months postsurgically. The gingival crevicular fluid values remained essentially the same up to 6 months postsurgically.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002951:Citrates / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D019343:Citric Acid; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D004846:Epithelial Attachment / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D005881:Gingiva / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005883:Gingival Crevicular Fluid; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000473:pathology; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000601:surgery*; D010519:Periodontium / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D002951:Citrates; D019343:Citric Acid