Maria Antonietta Cassini1, Loredana Cerroni2, Amedeo Ferlosio3, Augusto Orlandi3, Andrea Pilloni4. 1. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Sciences, Section of Periodontology "Sapienza", University of Rome, Italy; Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, "Tor Vergata" University of Rome, Italy. 2. Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, "Tor Vergata" University of Rome, Italy. 3. Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Institute of Anatomic Pathology, "Tor Vergata" University of Rome, Italy. 4. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Sciences, Section of Periodontology "Sapienza", University of Rome, Italy.
Abstract
AIM OF THE STUDY: Stillman's cleft is a mucogingival triangular-shaped defect on the buccal surface of a root with unknown etiology and pathogenesis. The aim of this study is to examine the Stillman's cleft obtained from excision during root coverage surgical procedures at an histopathological level. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Harvesting of cleft was obtained from two periodontally healthy patients with a scalpel and a bevel incision and then placed in a test tube with buffered solution to be processed for light microscopy. RESULTS: Microscopic analysis has shown that Stillman's cleft presented a lichenoid hand-like inflammatory infiltration, while in the periodontal patient an inflammatory fibrous hyperplasia was identified. CONCLUSION: Stillman's cleft remains to be investigated as for the possible causes of such lesion of the gingival margin, although an inflammatory response seems to be evident and active from a strictly histopathological standpoint.
AIM OF THE STUDY: Stillman's cleft is a mucogingival triangular-shaped defect on the buccal surface of a root with unknown etiology and pathogenesis. The aim of this study is to examine the Stillman's cleft obtained from excision during root coverage surgical procedures at an histopathological level. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Harvesting of cleft was obtained from two periodontally healthy patients with a scalpel and a bevel incision and then placed in a test tube with buffered solution to be processed for light microscopy. RESULTS: Microscopic analysis has shown that Stillman's cleft presented a lichenoid hand-like inflammatory infiltration, while in the periodontal patient an inflammatory fibrous hyperplasia was identified. CONCLUSION:Stillman's cleft remains to be investigated as for the possible causes of such lesion of the gingival margin, although an inflammatory response seems to be evident and active from a strictly histopathological standpoint.
Authors: P Sunethra Rajapakse; Giles I McCracken; Erika Gwynnett; Nick D Steen; Arndt Guentsch; Peter A Heasman Journal: J Clin Periodontol Date: 2007-10-22 Impact factor: 8.728