Cementum repair after apicoectomy in humans

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to study histologically the variance in cementum repair after surgical endodontic therapy. The material consisted of 35 biopsies obtained in the follow-up period after surgical treatment of periapical inflammatory changes or cystic lesions in humans. The biopsies included apex and surrounding periapical tissues. After demineralization the specimens were embedded in paraffin and serial sections were made. In a projection microscope the repair of cementum and periodontal ligaments as well as the presence of periapical inflammation and fibrous scar tissue was assessed by a histometric technique. A statistical analysis of these data revealed that the presence of functional arranged periodontal fibers was associated with deposition of a thick layer of eosinophilic cementum. Contrary in areas with scar tissue, granulation tissue or inflamed connective tissue, cementum repair was very limited and either consisted of a thin layer of basophilic cementum or no cementum deposition at all.