[Survival rate of desmodontal cells in relation to their extraoral dehydration].

The success of tooth replantation following traumatic avulsion depends to a large degree on the vitality of periodontal ligament cells which remain on the root surface. Loss of vitality promotes root resorption. In this study 124 freshly extracted teeth, only front teeth and premolars, were stored in dry environment for periods of 10 to 150 min. The vitality of the residual periodontal ligament tissue was tested by means of the fluorescein-diacetate reaction. The root area covered by vital tissue decreased to 90% after 30 min and to 70% after 45 min of dry storage. Between 60 and 90 min after extraction the vital tissue area decreased rapidly to about 10%.