In vitro attachment of human gingival fibroblasts to root surfaces.

Human gingival fibroblasts were used to study the in vitro attachment of cells to the root surface of periodontally-involved teeth. The portion of the root exposed to the disease process had little or no cell attachment; on the remainder of the root, the cells attached normally. Prior extraction of the roots with phenol-water or the mechanical removal of diseased cementum allowed the cells to attach normally. All things being equal, the extrapolation of these data to an in vivo situation dictates that a clinical success would depend upon complete removal of toxic materials from diseased cementum or the removal of the cementum itself.