Histological Study on Wound Healing of Rat Palatal Mucosa Following the Application of Softach (R) A

Action of the oral mucosa-dressing “Softach ® A” on the wound healing process of rat palatal mucosa was investigated based on the histological and histometrical evaluation for the purpose to explain the clinical effectiveness of this material on the healing of mucosal defects as in traumatic injury and aphthous stomatitis. In the experimental group, the dressing was applied immediately after making the wound and left for 8 hours under anesthesia and detached spontaneously after awaking. The dressing material was firmly attached to the wound surface, at least, for 8 hours. Histometrically it was indicated that both the extension of regenerated oral epithelium and the reestablishment of keratinized squamous epithelium were more significantly promoted at 72 hours after wound formation in the experimental group than in the control group. From histological findings it was also shown that the fibrin matrix was more substantially preserved at 8 hours after surgery under the dressing compared with the open wound. The present results would suggest that the application of Softach ® A to the oral wound is effective to accelerate the epithelial regeneration by maintaining an adequate environment for the wound probably due to blockage of external irritation such as bacterial infection.