Effect of pulp vitality on periodontal reattachment following free autogenous gingival graft in dogs.

: The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of pulp vitality on the periodontal reattachment following the free autogenous gingival graft. Maxillary bilateral premolars in each of 4 dogs were used. Denuded root surfaces were prepared after the labial alveolar osteotomies on the experimental region. 4 weeks later, the pulp in the right teeth was exstirpated and the root canals either were filled with gutta percha points and root canal sealer or were left open (infected teeth). The left teeth were kept in the vital pulp as a control. The graft was placed over the denuded root after 4 weeks. The animals were sacrificed 4 and 12 weeks postoperatively and a serial section of the premolars with surrounding tissues was prepared for a light microscopic examination. The clinical and histopathological findings showed that the gingival recession was more found in the infected teeth than the vital teeth and the former produced less periodontal reattachment as compared with the latter, and the interface between the donor and the recipient bed was characterized by the increased number and size of blood vessels.