Generation of Site-appropriate Tissue by a Living Cellular Sheet in the Treatment of Mucogingival Defects

Background: Generation of site-appropriate tissue in the oral cavity includes the restoration of the correct anatomic type, amount, and distribution of the tissue. This study is a post hoc analysis of data collected during previously published results from two randomized clinical trials of a living cellular sheet (LCS; allogenic cultured keratinocytes and fibroblasts in bovine collagen) versus a free gingival graft (FGG), evaluating their ability to augment keratinized tissue or gingiva.

Methods: Post hoc histologic and clinical (photographic) comparisons of the outcomes of treatment were performed on histologic and photographic data gathered in the two randomized clinical trials.

Results: Histologic findings showed that LCS-treated sites resembled gingiva rather than alveolar mucosa. Photographic analysis indicated that LCS treatment resulted in more site-appropriate tissue than FGG in terms of tissue color, with adjacent untreated tissue, absence of scar formation or keloid-like appearance, and mucogingival junction alignment.

Conclusion: Treatment of mucogingival defects with LCS resulted in the generation of tissue that is more site appropriate than tissue transplanted from the palate.