Oxygen effects on healing gingival wedge excisions were tested using Sprague‐Dawley rats. 40 operated controls were maintained at normal pressure in room air. 3 experimental groups of 40 rats each were exposed for 90 min daily to one of the following: (I) 20.8% oxygen at 2.4 atmospheres pressure, (2) 100% oxygen at 1 atmosphere, or (3) 100% oxygen at 2.4 atmospheres. 5 animals in each group were sacrificed at the following times: 30, 54, 78 h and weeks 1, 2, 3, 6 and 12. Histometric analysis was performed using light microscopy. The connective tissue healing above a reference notch on the maxillary first molar mesial root was assessed. The controls failed to show healing comparable to experimental animals until the end of 2 weeks. Enhanced connective tissue healing above the notch was most significant (p≤0.05) in the 2.4 atmospheres pressure groups at 3 and 6 weeks when compared to controls. However by 12 weeks, no significant differences could be detected. New cementum formation was rare and occasional root resorption was observed. Early connective tissue adaptation does not imply eventual attachment as epithelial downgrowth progressively displaced the connective tissue adjacent to the root in both experimental and control groups of this study.

A 50-year-old man presented for a routine physical examination for the first time in 10 years. He reported having had no recent health problems. He had a 60 pack-year smoking history and did not drink alcohol. During the examination, a painless, firm mass was found on the hard palate. The remainder of the examination was unremarkable. The patient reported that this lesion had been present and without change since childhood. A torus palatinus, a benign overgrowth of bone, was diagnosed. Approximately 20% of the population has at least a small torus palatinus, which often goes unnoticed until middle age. This condition occurs twice as often in women as in men.