A Clinical Evaluation of Freeze-Dried Homologous Dura Mater as a Periodontal Free Graft Material: Study in Humans

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Abstract
Homologous freeze dried dura mater (FDDM) was used as a graft material in the correction of inadequate zones of attached gingiva. Eleven patients having a mean preoperative width of attached gingiva of 0.31 mm with a range of 0 to 1 mm were used in this study. A total of 17 grafts were implanted at 42 tooth sites, all on the buccal side of the mandibular arch. Clinical observations were conducted over a 3-month postoperative period. The parameters examined pre- and postoperatively were the width of the attached gingiva, the crevice depth and the width of the homologous FDDM implanted. Postoperatively, the mean width of the attached gingiva was 3.65 mm with a range of 2 to 6 mm. This finding was statistically significant (P < 0.001). The crevice depths did not vary significantly and the implanted FDDM evidenced a mean shrinkage of 46.7%. Within its temporal limits, the present study has shown that homologous FDDM can be used effectively as a free graft in mucogingival surgery to correct inadequate zones of attached gingiva.