The effect of cleansing the root surface of extracted teeth in either saliva or tap water prior to replantation was studied in green Vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops). Maxillary central- and mandibular lateral incisors and mandibular first molars were extracted. The extra-alveolar period before replantation was 10 sec. During this period the root surface was cleaned with either saliva or tap water. The replanted teeth were examined histologically after 8 weeks. The histometric analysis showed significantly more normal periodontium and significantly less inflammatory root resorption in teeth cleaned in tap water than in teeth cleaned in saliva. The beneficial effect of this rinsing procedure in clinical practice in case of mature teeth is dubious, as inflammatory resorption is normally controlled by pulp extirpation and a root canal filling. Furthermore, the abovementioned finding is based on the use of tap water with only a moderate chlorine concentration, leading one to suspect that tap water with higher chlorine concentrations may be detrimental to healing. Provisional guidelines for the immediate treatment of avulsed teeth are suggested.