CHEMICALLY SEPARATED CONNECTIVE-TISSUE GRAFTS - CLINICAL-APPLICATION AND HISTOLOGICAL-EVALUATION

SUBEPITHELIAL PALATAL CONNECTIVE TISSUE GRAFTs, separated from the epi thelium either chemically (n = 5) or surgically (n = 2) were inserted in patients presenting with gingival recession. Biopsies at the grafte d tissue and a portion of non-keratinized mucosa were taken 12 months later. Histology showed keratinization of the newly formed epithelium, and interestingly a deep projection of epithelium into the connective tissue in almost all biopsies, sometimes with an enlargement and a cy st-like space. We conclude that chemical separation of epithelium and connective tissue is clinically feasible for connective tissue grafts and that the subepithelial connective tissue grafting technique should be modified to avoid this projection of epithelium.