Maxillary arch dimensions after palatal surgery at different ages on beagle dogs.

Changes of maxillary arch dimensions were studied longitudinally until maturity, after palatal surgery was performed on 37 beagle dogs at different ages. The dogs were divided into three experimental groups, a sham group, and a control group. At the age of 6, 16, or 25 weeks in the experimental groups, we created a soft-tissue cleft in the medial region of the palate, made relaxation incisions, and elevated and closed the mucoperiosteum in the midline, thus leaving two areas of denuded bone adjacent to the dentition. We made dental casts regularly until the age of 37 weeks, and studied maxillary arch dimensions. Surgery performed before or during the transition of teeth did not change maxillary arch dimensions in the deciduous dentition, but after the transition, the increase in arch width in the pre-molar region was reduced. Surgery performed after completion of the permanent dentition did not change maxillary arch dimensions. Delay of palatal surgery until the transition of teeth was completed favored normal development of the maxillary dental arch.