Abstract
Reinnervation after periodontal surgery was assessed. Gingivectomy using a surgical knife and electrotome was performed on the palatal gingiva first molars of 72 rats. Rats were sacrificed 1, 3, 7 and 14 days postoperatively, and examined histologically and immunohistochemically using antibodies to neurofilament protein (NFP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). In the surgical knife, group, nerve sprouting started 3 days later and the findings on day 7 were similar to those in the control. In the electrotome, group, on the other hand, while nerve sprouting was observed on day 7, it occurred later thas in the surgical knife group, as did healing of the surrounding tissue. Hence we conclude that reinnervation after gingivectomy is affected by the kind of injury and the degree of healing of the surrounding tissue.
