Evaluation of resultant tissue type following the intraoral transplantatin of various lyophilized soft tissues

Epithelial regeneration was studied in Rhesus monkeys following the placement of fresh autogenous and lyophilized allogeneic soft tissue grafts in alveolar mucosa recipient sites. Two months postoperatively, histologic evaluation of biopsied graft areas showed that the autogenous free gingival graft controls, lyophilized allogeneic skin, and lyophilized allogeneic gingiva generally demonstrated a keratinized surfrace and other attributes of gingival‐type tissue. Lyophilized allogeneic mucosa universally yielde a non‐ or para‐ keratinized surface and a mucosa‐like corium. These findings reinforce the principle of dermal dictation of epithelial covering, demonstrate that lyophilized tissues retain their dermal specificity, and support the use of lyophilized allogeneic skin and gingiva in mucogingival surgery.