The Effect of Limited Drying or Removal of the Periodontal Ligament

The effect of limited drying or removal of the periodontal ligament upon periodontal healing after replantation of incisors was studied in green Vervet monkeys. All teeth were examined histologically either 2-, 4- or 8 weeks after replantation. The drying experiment demonstrated that an area of ankylosis was established after 2 weeks corresponding to the dried portion of the root and was removed by a resorptive process in the majority of cases after 8 weeks. The removal of the periodontal ligament led to development of surface-, inflammatory- and replacement resorption. Furthermore, 1 mm2 and 4 mm2 lesions on the root surface developed transient ankylosis which disappeared after 8 weeks while lesions of 9 mm2 or 16 mm2 in size resulted in an ankylosis which, in most cases, persisted after 8 weeks. Based on these findings, it is postulated that physical removal or extended drying of the periodontal ligament initiates a rapid osteogenesis in the alveolus which establishes an ankylosis. If the damaged area is placed next to a zone on the root surface with a vital periodontal ligament, a later resorptive process is established from this zone, whereby the ankylosis area is gradually resorbed. It is estimated that the extent of this process in this experiment amounted to possibly 1 -- 1.5 mm.