Mucoperiosteal migration after palatal surgery in beagle dogs: a longitudinal radiographic study

In this study, the effect of palatal surgery on the mucoperiosteum was investigated radiographically. 33 beagle dogs were used, divided into 3 experimental groups, a control group and a sham operated group. At the age of 6, 16 or 25 weeks in the experimental groups, a soft tissue defect was created in the median region of the palate by excising a standardized elliptical mucoperiosteal flap. This defect was closed according to the Von Langenbeck technique. Metallic implants were placed in the mucoperiosteum. Dorso-ventral radiographs were taken until the age of 37 weeks. Increments of distances between these mucoperiosteum markers were calculated. Wound contraction in the denuded areas, recorded as the approaching of the opposite metallic implants followed the same pattern for all experimental groups and was restricted to the first 2 experimental weeks. In all experimental groups, the anterior and posterior overall palatal width diminished during the early wound healing compared to the control group. The largest initial effect was found in the anterior region of the palate. The margins of the mucoperiosteal tissue in the median region of the palate moved towards the denuded areas during the first postoperative week. Palatal surgery as performed did not influence antero-posterior distances on the palatal mucoperiosteum.