HEALING PATTERNS IN RECESSION DEFECTS TREATED WITH EPTFE MEMBRANES AND WITH FREE CONNECTIVE-TISSUE GRAFTS - A HISTOLOGIC AND HISTOMETRIC STUDY IN THE BEAGLE DOG

This study focussed on the biologic success of 2 different procedures for root coverage. In the maxillary canines of 7 beagle dogs, buccal r ecessions were created and treated on one side with an ePTFE membrane (GTR-group) and on the contralateral side with a free connective tissu e graft from the palate (CT-group). 2 areas served as negative control s. After 4 months of healing, histologic sections were processed and h istologically analyzed. The evaluated parameters were coverage height, bone, cementum and connective tissue attachment regeneration, length of the epithelium, resorption, and ankylosis. Histologically, both GTR -group and CT-group produced more new bone, new cementum and new conne ctive tissue attachment than the two control teeth. When histologicall y evaluated, the amount of new bone was more pronounced in the GTR-gro up than in the CT-group, however, no statistical differences in any of the evaluated parameters could be deteced between the 2 procedures te sted. Frequency and distribution of resorption and ankylosis were simi lar in the GTR-group and in the CT-group. Within the limits of this st udy, no differences in terms of the biologic rehabilitation between th ose recessions treated with ePTFE membranes and those treated with a f ree connective tissue graft could be found.