Experimental study of dermal grafts for reconstruction of oral mucosa.

Mucosal defects in the oral cavities of 35 dogs were repaired with reversed dermal grafts, full-thickness skin grafts, and dermal grafts. Comparative observations were made for up to two years to analyze the healing processes. The reversed dermal grafts were covered by surrounding mucosal epithelium and formed normal mucosal tissue that maintained its characteristics for two years. Histologic and scanning electron microscopic examination revealed that the epithelial appendages underwent degeneration, presumably through being embedded by the grafting of the dermis inside out. Epithelialization of the dermal grafts occurred from both surrounding mucosal epithelium and ancillary skin appendages. The full-thickness skin grafts maintained their original structure and function over the two-year observation period. It appears from this investigation that the reversed dermal graft method has definite advantages over full-thickness skin grafting and dermal grafting.