[Electron microscopic studies on pedicled grafts of alveolar mucosa and on newly formed periosteal epithelium].

20 patients who had undergone a vestibuloplasty using the technique of Edlan and Mejchar were examined by histo-morphological studies of the transplanted alveolar mucosa and the epithelialised periosteal zone up to one year post-operatively. The following conclusions were reached: --the original characteristics of the transplanted tissue remain unaltered. --numerous abnormalities in the epithelium and connective tissue are explained by insufficient oxygen diffusion and marked inflammatory reaction in the connective tissue. --there is no keratin formation although the number of layers of the stratum superficiale increases after the 16th post-operative week. On the basis of these results the question of whether there is a possible change-over from uncornified to a cornified epithelium is answered in the negative.