The influence of zinc iontophoresis on in vitro adherence of fibroblasts to periodontally‐diseased cementum

This in vitro study examined whether iontophoresis of zinc ions aided adherence of fibroblasts to the root surfaces of periodontally‐diseased teeth. Iontophoresis of zinc ions into extracted, periodontally‐diseased human teeth was performed. Controls consisted of untreated diseased teeth and healthy unerupted teeth. Comparison was also made with teeth that were rinsed in zinc fluoride solution or in 45% phenol. Fibroblasts (L929) adherence was measured by trypan blue staining or by cell counting. The results demonstrate that fibroblasts adhere equally well to: 1) healthy root surfaces, 2) diseased root surfaces treated with 45% phenol, or 3) diseased root surfaces treated by iontophoresis of zinc ions. Cell adherence in these groups was significantly greater than adherence in groups of periodontally‐diseased teeth which were either untreated or rinsed with ZnCl2. Iontophoresis with zinc ions appears to be an effective method of increasing cellular adherence to periodontally‐diseased roots.