title: The effect of limited drying or removal of the periodontal ligament. Periodontal healing after replantation of mature permanent incisors in monkeys.
abstract: The effect of limited drying or removal of the periodontal ligament upon periodontal healing after replantation of incisors was studied in green Vervet monkeys. All teeth were examined histologically either 2-, 4- or 8 weeks after replantation. The drying experiment demonstrated that an area of ankylosis was established after 2 weeks corresponding to the dried portion of the root and was removed by a resorptive process in the majority of cases after 8 weeks. The removal of the periodontal ligament led to development of surface-, inflammatory- and replacement resorption. Furthermore, 1 mm2 and 4 mm2 lesions on the root surface developed transient ankylosis which disappeared after 8 weeks while lesions of 9 mm2 or 16 mm2 in size resulted in an ankylosis which, in most cases, persisted after 8 weeks. Based on these findings, it is postulated that physical removal or extended drying of the periodontal ligament initiates a rapid osteogenesis in the alveolus which establishes an ankylosis. If the damaged area is placed next to a zone on the root surface with a vital periodontal ligament, a later resorptive process is established from this zone, whereby the ankylosis area is gradually resorbed. It is estimated that the extent of this process in this experiment amounted to possibly 1 -- 1.5 mm.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000844:Ankylosis / Q000473:pathology; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D010513:Periodontal Ligament / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D012391:Root Resorption / Q000473:pathology; D014090:Tooth Replantation / Q000379:methods; D014945:Wound Healing