Effect of inflammation on periodontal attachment levels in miniature swine with mucogingival defects.

Previous authors have postulated that a dense band of keratinized, attached gingiva prevents the spread of inflammation from the gingival margin to the subjacent attachment apparatus. Chronically inflamed mucogingival defects were created over the vestibular surface of 12 central incisors in miniature swine. The untreated contralateral incisors were identified as paired controls. Placement of horizontal reference notches on the tooth surfaces was followed by measurement of Probing Depth (PD) and Probing Attachment Level (PAL) on the vestibular aspect of each experimental and control tooth. No plaque removal was accomplished at any time during the study. One year following the attainment of baseline data, all measurements were repeated. Results show an increase in PD and a loss of PAL in both experimental and control regions. No difference in increase of PD or loss of PAL between the groups could be discerned.