Healing after tooth reimplantation in monkeys. A radioautographic study.

The purpose of this study was to examine radioautographically the dynamics of tissue changes during healing after reimplantation of maxilliary incisors in adult rhesus monkeys. The period selected for the study was 1 day to 4 months. The study revealed that a new attachment will be restored after tooth reimplantation. Epithelial tissues start to proliferate immediately after reimplantation; this proliferation reaches its peak in 3 days. After 7 days a new junctional epithelium is re-established. Connective tissue proliferation reaches its peak in 7 days and starts mainly from the supracrestal connective tissue and the bone marrow spaces. The interface is undetectable after 7 days, being replaced by young connective tissue which re-establishes the continuity of the periodontal membrane and the supracrestal connective tissue. Orientation and maturation of the fibers are not observed until 4 months after reimplantation. Changes toward root resorption and ankylosis can be seen as early as 14 days after reimplantation.