Rat palatal histology related to denture-like appliances.

Two designs of palatal denture-like appliance were fitted to rats. Tooth- and tissue-borne appliances caused changes in epithelial thickness and keratin thickness, but these varied with anatomical site and type of appliance. A single inoculation of Candida albicans at the time of insertion of the appliance failed to establish infection consistently. Debris accumulation under the appliances was a problem which will restrict long-term studies with this model.