Abstract
The healing of experimental palatal defects and its influence on maxillary growth was studied in 14 beagles operated at 6 to 8 weeks of age. Analogous defects involving the removal of palatal bone and the overlying oral mucoperiosteum were made on each side of the midline. The defect on one side of the midline was covered with an autogenous full-thickness skin graft while that on the opposite side was left to heal by second intention. Healing and maxillary growth were evaluated for up to 46 weeks postoperatively using histological, scanning electron microscopical and biometric techniques. From the time of surgery to the age of 1 year the uncovered area decreased 36 % in size while the area of the skin graft increased 155 %. The presence in the skin graft of hair follicles with the ability to grow hair indicates that the principal structure of the skin graft did not change during the observation period. Nearly complete bone regeneration occurred in the side left uncovered and the palatine suture was in all dogs displaced towards this side. Beneath the skin graft, large bone defects remained and in eight of 10 dogs, a new suturelike structure parallel to the palatine suture was found in the middle. of this side. It is hypothesized that transverse growth on the uncovered side was inhibited due to wound contraction and nearly complete bone regeneration, while translation of bones adjacent to the defect was possible beneath the skin graft due to lower resistance in the skin graft, slow bone formation beneath it and the formation of the suturelike structure. Compensatory growth mechanisms in the dentoalveolar regions permitted the maintenance of proper occlusion.
Published Version
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