Exfoliative cytological studies in evaluation of free gingival graft healing

Abstract Free palatal grafts were transplanted into the alveolar mucosa area in 12 patients. Smears were taken daily from the graft surface for 9 days and then weekly until the 5th week; smears were taken from the palatal wound only weekly. In addition 5 to 8, 8 to 12 and 12 to 29 months respectively after grafting, cytology was studied at the recipient, palatal donor and control sites, in alveolar mucosa and attached gingiva areas. Degenerative changes in the epithelial cells of the graft were observed during the first few days in the most superficial and the intermediate layers. On the 7th day no degenerated superficial cells were present in the smears. Five weeks postoperatively the superficial cell index had increased to 100 % and the keratinization index to 57 %. It is concluded that the transplanted basal, parabasal and intermediate epithelial cells were active in the healing process which, up to 21/2 half years postoperatively, resulted in cytological smears typical for the palatal but not the alveolar mucosa.