Histological assessment of autogenous bone graft. A case report and critical evaluation

A histological study of the site of a clinically successful bone graft revealed the presence of a downgrowing junctional epithelium between the root surface and the altered graft bone. No new cementum could be seen associated with the osseous autograft, nor was a functional periodontal ligament in evidence adjacent to the grafted bone. It is suggested that the presence of newly formed bone on surgical reentry following bone grafting in periodontal lesions does not necessarily imply that regeneration of the periodontium has occurred.