title: Effect of topical application of citric acid in the treatment of furcation involvement in human lower molars.
abstract: Improvement of new attachment procedures using topically applied citric acid was tested in human beings. Furcation involvement and the adjacent proximal area were surgically exposed. Saline was used as placebo drug. Baseline pocket depth and attachment levels were scored prior to surgery and bone level recorded at the time of surgery. After 1, 3 and 6 months, the clinical parameters were re-scored and at that time, a re-entry operation allowed a new measurement of the bone level. In the post-operative experimental periods, there was an improvement of all clinical parameters in both the control and experimental groups. Pocket depth reduction was consistent; the gain in the attachment level compared to the baseline examination in the experimental group and the improvement in the bone height level were statistically significant within the 6-month post-operative interval; however, in both the furcation and proximal areas, no statistically significant differences could be detected on comparing experimental and control groups.
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects; D002951:Citrates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019343:Citric Acid; D012534:Dental Scaling; D004846:Epithelial Attachment / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008334:Mandible; D008963:Molar / Q000187:drug effects*; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D002951:Citrates; D019343:Citric Acid