Scar Tissue Distribution on Palates and its Relation to Maxillary Dental Arch Form

Abstract

Objective This study investigated the relationship between maxillary dental arch form and distribution of postsurgical scar tissue on previously denuded bone in isolated cleft palate patients. Method The palatal blood flow of 21 Japanese isolated cleft palate patients (6 males, 15 females) was examined by laser doppler flowmetry to determine the scar tissue areas. All had undergone pushback operations for palatal repair at around 18 months of age. Tissue blood flow was examined at a time ranging from 11 years, 5 months to 19 years, 9 months of age. To evaluate the maxillary dental arch form, dental casts obtained at the start of orthodontic treatment (a mean age of 8 years, 4 months) were analyzed. Results/Conclusions Scar tissue distribution in the 21 cases was classified into five types. Characteristic features in the maxillary dental arch form were found in each of the five types according to the extent of the scar tissue. It was evident that the severity of the maxillary dental arch constriction was closely related to the scar tissue distribution on palates.