Healing after treatment of periodontal intraosseous defects

Abstract Citric acid conditioning of the root surface as a supplement to replaced flap surgery of intraosseous periodontal defects was evaluated, Thirteen patients and a total of 45 proximal defects with residual probing pocket depth ≥ 6 mm after initial preparation were used. The effect of treatment was studied in matched subsamples of the total material including one acid-treated and one nonacid-treated defect from each subject, The results demonstrated that an average gain of probing attachment level amounting to 2.0 mm was obtained following acid treatment as compared to 1.l–1.2 mm for the nonacid-treated controls. Corresponding figures for gain of probing bone level were 1.2–1.3 mm for acid treatment and 0.8–0.9 mm for controls. The clinical significance of these findings was discussed.