Healing of periodontal lesions in monkeys following the guided tissue regeneration procedure. A histological study
The purpose of this study was to describe the initial healing of periodontal lesions in monkeys following application of a membrane according to the principle of guided tissue regeneration and to examine the origin of granulation tissue formed in the defect. Two adult monkeys were used in the study. Horizontal interproximal lesions and through-and-through bifurcation defects were surgically produced. Notches were prepared in the root surface to indicate the level of the reduced bone level. Teflon membranes were adjusted to cover the defects. The animals were sacrificed.
Histological specimens revealed a growth of new connective tissue during a period of four weeks. The coronal growth of new tissue did not increase significantly between four and nine weeks. There was new cementum formed in the most apical portion of one notch after one week of healing and also at three and four weeks. Periodontal ligament fiber was observed in notches. Alveolar bone growth was limited and only observed in the nine-week specimens. Bacterial deposits, which were observed on the exposed membrane material and were also visible on most of the root surfaces underneath the membrane material, may jeopardize new attachment formation, especially growth of bone following a GTR procedure. [S.L.]
Sander, L., and T. Karring, J Clin Periodont, 22:332, 1995