In a submucosal vestibuloplasty, what factor can significantly improve success rates?

In the context of a submucosal vestibuloplasty, prolonging stent retention can significantly improve success rates by ensuring that the newly formed vestibular depth remains stable and properly healed postoperatively. A stent provides essential support to the tissues and helps to maintain the surgical site in its desired position, preventing any movement that could lead to complications such as scarring or tissue collapse.

The longer duration that the stent is kept in place, the better it can assist in minimizing tension on the tissues as they heal, allowing for more effective integration of the surgical changes into the oral environment. This ultimately supports better healing outcomes, facilitates the adaptation of the mucosa, and helps to establish a functional and aesthetically pleasing vestibular depth.

In contrast, shortening postoperative stent duration may expose the tissues to premature stress and potentially disrupt the healing process. Utilizing absorbable stent materials can be advantageous for convenience but does not directly influence the stability of the vestibular area or the effectiveness of the procedure postoperatively as much as prolonging retention. Reducing surgical dissection might lower the trauma to surrounding tissues, but it does not specifically address the critical aspect of stent retention in maintaining postoperative outcomes.