Which term describes the healing of the area of the root that was not previously exposed to the pocket following surgical detachment?

The term that accurately describes the healing of the area of the root that was not previously exposed to the pocket following surgical detachment is "Reattachment." This process refers to the return of the periodontal fibers to the tooth's root surface after surgical procedures. In cases of periodontal surgery, when the tissues are reattached to the root, it creates a new connection between the tooth and the surrounding supportive structures.

Reattachment is critical as it can improve the overall health of the periodontal tissues by restoring the functional relationship between the tooth and the periodontal attachment apparatus. This differs from other terms such as regeneration, which involves the complete restoration of lost or damaged periodontal tissues, including bone and ligament, and typically implies the formation of new tissues. New attachment encompasses the formation of a new attachment apparatus but does not necessarily involve the return to the periodontal structures after surgical procedures. Repair, on the other hand, generally refers to the healing of tissues but can be associated with scarring and does not specifically denote the re-establishment of the original attachment apparatus.

This understanding clarifies why reattachment is the correct term in this scenario, as it specifically refers to the direct process occurring after surgical detachment in relation to healthy gums and the tooth's root.