Healing is delayed in oral compared to dermal excisional wounds.
BACKGROUND
Oral wound healing is reported to occur more rapidly than dermal healing due, in part, to factors in saliva that facilitate the repair process. However, the oral environment also presents challenges to healing that include a large commensal flora and trauma from mastication.


METHODS
Excisional punch biopsies (1.5 mm) were placed in the scalp and hard palate of mice to create similar wounds with an osseous floor and relatively thick connective tissue walls. Histomorphometric analysis of hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections was performed at the widest part of each lesion.


RESULTS
The rate of epithelial and connective tissue coverage and the amount of new connective tissue formed were delayed in the oral compared to dermal wounds. In addition, the number of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) was significantly higher and more persistent in the oral wounds.


CONCLUSIONS
Under conditions where a considerable amount of new connective tissue synthesis is required, oral healing is slower than dermal repair. This may be due to a higher degree of inflammatory stimulation induced by conditions present in the oral environment.
Nooh
Nasser
N
College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Graves
Dana T
DT
D000818:Animals; D001706:Biopsy; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000502:physiology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000293:injuries*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000502:physiology; D011897:Random Allocation; D012535:Scalp / Q000293:injuries*; D013997:Time Factors; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*