Influence of Antimicrobial agents on Wound Healing at Rat Palate

Objectives: The present study was carried out to evaluate macroscopically and microscopically the effect of application of antimicrobial solutions, on the healing process of palatal donor area exposed while harvesting a free palatal graft. Methods: Standardized circular 5 mm wounds were created in the palates of Wistar rats divided to 5 groups each containing 25 animals. The soft tissue was removed by sharp dissection exposing the underlining bone. Daily Application of 0.1% chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX) ,Phenolic compound (PC)and Stannous fluoride(SF) ,saline solutions(control) and1% CHX gel for 1 min was performed on the palatal wound. Animals were sacrificed at 0,3,7,14,21 days, The maxilla were dissected and fixed in 10% formalin.The diameter of the palatal wounds was recorded with color slide photograph and standardized technique and calculated using Computerized Digitize. Paraffin blocks were prepared after decalcification and serial sections of 5µm were cut in transpalatal plane, stained with HE and examined histomorphometrically with light microscopy. The area of epithelial migration, wound diameter and the size of the palate were measured. Results: Photometric measurements showed a gradual closure of the wound, almost 50% reduction of the defect between 0 to 14 days with no significant difference between the tested antimicrobial drugs. The epithelial cells migration started in 72h beneath the inflammatory cell infiltrate covering most of the wound surface. Following 7 days 40% of the wound and at 14 days almost all the area was covered by epithelium. The tested antiseptic drugs resulted significantly faster healing as compared to control with non significant differences between the experimental groups. Conclusion: Post operative use of CHX gel 1%, and 0.1% CHX, PC and SF solutions do not impair the healing of palatal donor sites.