A time-related study of healing in the marginal periodontal/root interface.

Healing in a marginal periodontal wound was followed from 1 to 56 days with scanning electron and light microscopy. It was shown that early cell reactions on the root surface involves a plaque-induced inflammation with an apical migration of marginal epithelium, thus preventing connective tissue attachment. New cementum was found only on old cementum in the most apical part of the experimental wound. A temporal morphological baseline was established for further studies on the influence of various local endogenous and exogenous factors on marginal periodontal healing.