Histology of connective tissue graft. A case report

Few investigations can be found in the literature on the histological nature of the attachment of connective tissue grafts to root surfaces previously exposed by recession.

In this case report, a 24-year-old patient was treated with a connective tissue graft combined with a partial-thickness coronally positioned flap for root coverage of Class I Miller recessions at the maxillary right and left canines and first premolars. The treated sites exhibited 83% and 100% root coverage on the right and left sides, respectively. Twelve months later, the case required extraction of all 4 first premolars for orthodontic reasons. Two conservative block sections including the maxillary first premolars with the buccal soft tissues were obtained and processed histologically in a bucco-palatal plane.

Histological analysis showed that healing occurred via a long junctional epithelium throughout the major portion of the previous recession site. Only minimal signs of new cementum-like tissue formation could be seen in the apical portion of the recession area coronal to the base of the instrumented root surface. No root resorption or ankylosis could be detected in any of the serial sections.

The findings of this case report outline the possible variations in the histological outcome of connective tissue grafts. These variations can be attributed to differences in size and shape of the recession defects and flap positioning at the end of surgery.