Wound healing following curettement of bifurcation abscesses of human primary molars.

Forty-five abscessed human mandibular primary molars with bifurcation radiolucency were subjected to a two-stage formocresol treatment of the pulp chamber. On the first appointment, an elliptical patch of buccal mucosa was removed. Bony defects varied from 2 mm. to more than 4 mm. in diameter. Periapical radiographs were used to record changes in bone development. Punch biopsy specimens were taken from the bifurcation area of some subjects from 2 weeks up to a year after surgical curettement. Biopsied tissue was studied by electron and light microscopy to examine wound healing of the bifurcation, revealing an early proliferation of fibroblasts with extracellular collagen fibers. Some of the fibroblasts exhibited an extensive network of rough endoplasmic reticulum, scattered free ribosomes, mitochondria, and other organelles which are normally observed in healthy fibroblasts. Histologic and clinical evaluation support the treatment tested for retention of previously abscessed primary molars.