Mitotic response in basal cells of the crevicular epithelium to gingival surgery.

A total of 18 periodontal patients participated in this study. After initial preparation, a gingivectomy was performed on the lingual surfaces of posterior teeth with pockets ranging from 3 to 5 mm in depth. Control specimens were obtained at time of gingivectomy. Subsequently, the patients were divided into three groups (Group I, II, III). Each group contained three male and three female patients. The gingivectomy site was biopsied after surgery at 7, 14, and 28 days. The mean mitotic indices of the basal cell layer of the crevicular epithelium were obtained. At 0 day, the mean mitotic index was 6.6, increased to 11.4 at 7 days, and rose to a high value of 11.6 at 14 days. It was reduced to a value of 9.7 at 28 days. From our data, it appeared that the rise in mitotic activity which followed gingival injury did not fall to preoperative levels at 30 days postsurgery.