Healing following full thickness excision of human palatal mucosa

Healing was observed for 6 months following excision of full thickness normal adult human palatal mucosa (approx 12 mm X 10 mm) to measure the degree of wound contraction and determine if rugae would regenerate. Measurements of plaster models showed stretching and displacement of soft tissue not involved in the original would toward the centre of the wound from 6 weeks postoperatively. The distance between the incisive papilla and the most posterior ruga on the side of operation reduced by 2.2 mm and the first ruga on the opposite side was stretched in length by 0.9 mm. A fragment of superficial bone (approx 10 mm X 7 mm) sequestrated at 5 weeks, epithelialisation was complete by 8 weeks but the rugae did not reform at all.