First Evidence for Regeneration of the Periodontium to Mineral Trioxide Aggregate in Human Teeth.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to elucidate whether the use of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) in endodontic therapy in human teeth leads to the same regeneration of the apical tissues as observed in animals.


METHODS
Four human teeth were identified in a policlinic that had been treated endodontically with MTA and had to be extracted for other reasons than just endodontic failure. All teeth were processed for histologic and one for immunohistochemical analyses to analyze the histologic response of the periapical structure to the former treatment with MTA.


RESULTS
All identified teeth showed clinical and radiographic signs of healing at the time of extraction. In the histologic evaluation, all teeth showed a layer of cementlike tissues at least on the MTA surface. Further double immunofluorescence analyses for collagen type I and type III revealed protein expression and colocalization of the 2 proteins, implicating formation of periodontal ligamentlike tissue, presumably fibers.


CONCLUSIONS
Histologic healing of the human periodontium to MTA corresponds to the healing pattern shown in animal studies. Cementlike tissues were formed on the surface of MTA, which proves regeneration of the periodontal ligament.
Dental Academy for Continuing Professional Development, Karlsruhe, Germany; Clinic for Conservative Dentistry and Periodontology, School for Dental Medicine, Christian-Albrechts-University, Kiel, Germany. Electronic address: andreas_bartols@azfk.de.
Andreas
A
Bartols
Department of Molecular Embryology, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany; Department of Neuroanatomy, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany.
Eleni
E
Roussa
Dental Academy for Continuing Professional Development, Karlsruhe, Germany.
Winfried
W
Walther
Clinic for Conservative Dentistry and Periodontology, School for Dental Medicine, Christian-Albrechts-University, Kiel, Germany.
Christof E
CE
Dörfer
D000328:Adult; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017607:Aluminum Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017610:Calcium Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010087:Oxides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010513:Periodontal Ligament / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010519:Periodontium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D012038:Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017640:Silicates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
D017607:Aluminum Compounds; D017610:Calcium Compounds; D004338:Drug Combinations; D010087:Oxides; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials; D017640:Silicates; C086631:mineral trioxide aggregate
Cementum; endodontic therapy; mineral trioxide aggregate; periodontal ligament; regeneration