Free transplantation of lyophilized dura for vestibuloplasty: a clinical and histological study.

Covering epithelial defects in the oral cavity is often neccessary in maxillofacial surgery. Special problems arise in preprosthetic surgery because requisites for function and quality of epithelial grafts must be satisfied. Using free heterologous lyophilized dura grafts for vestibular sulcoplasty in 23 patients, we observed a good clinical and histological healing process. Considering the necessity of a second operation for skin or mucosal grafts (and the limited source of mucosa), we believe that the lyophilized dura can be used successfully in preprosthetic surgery.