Use of palatal mucosa and lyophilized dura mater to create attached gingiva

Gingival extension procedures using free palatal mucosal autografts or homologous lyophilized dura were compared clinically. Palatal mucosa was transplanted in 68 cases and lyophilized dura in 16 cases. The width of the zone of attached gingiva was measured before surgery and at regular intervals up to 2 years postoperatively. The width of the attached gingiva remained relatively constant in the mucosal transplant group from 1 month postoperatively, with an average relapse of about 20%. In the dura group the width of attached gingiva showed a marked decrease until 3 months after surgery with an average relapse of approximately 63%. If a preset minimal width of the attached gingiva is considered to be the criterion of success, the superiority of the palatal mucosa grafting procedure is demonstrated.