abstract–This paper reports on a study of wound healing in the gingiva of young and aged human beings. Healthy facial gingiva of young (mean age 23 years) and old (mean age 70years) persons were selected on the basis of the criteria of the Gingival Index and on gingival exudate measurements. The depth of the gingival crevices was measured and casts were produced for recording the level of the gingival margin. A 2 mm wide biopsy was performed to the bottom of the crevice according to a standardized technique. The progress of healing and regeneration of the crevice were studied clinically at 2, 4, 7, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 days. In the aged patients additional assessments were made at 70, 100, and 300 days. At the termination of the observation period new casts were produced. The results showed that from a qualitative point of view healing occurred somewhat earlier in young as compared with old individuals. However, the most conspicuous difference was that whereas the free gingiva of the young adults regenerated to pre‐operative levels within 60 days, that of old individuals never did regenerate completely. This lack of regenerative capacity of the aged individual is discussed with reference to general principles of wound heal