Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine whether new fibrous attachment accompanying keratinized tissue can be achieved following guided tissue regeneration (GTR) treatment of buccal gingival recession defects created in dogs. The recession defects were created with osseous and gingival resective surgery on the buccal aspect of the mesial root of the mandibular aourth premolar and first molar. To achieve experimental periodontitis, a ligature wire was tied at the cervical area to promote plaque accumulation for 4 months. Gingival health was reestablished prior to GTR membrane application by scaling, root planing, and oral hygiene procedures. All defects were managed with coronally positioned mucogingival surgery. Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membranes were applied for 4 weeks to each randomly selected defect in the test group. In the control group, without membrane application, flaps were adapted as closely as possible to the tooth surface. The dogs were sacrificed for specimen preparation and histological evaluation 8 months after the beginning of the experiment. The test group demonstrated new fibrous attachment with newly formed cementum, alveolar bone and keratinized tissue, while the healing type of long junctional epithelium without new bone formation was primarily observed in the control group. The results indicate that applying the GTR membrance in the treatment of gingival recession defects can enhance new fibrous attachment formation accompanying with newly formed bone and cementur.
