This study was designed to explore the relationship of the growth of the maxilla and dental arch with different sizes of the denudation area on the hard palate. We tested the hypothesis that different sizes of denudation areas on the hard palate following palatoplasty would significantly influence the growth of the maxilla and dental arch differently. Fifty-one three-week-old Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly divided into a control group and 3 experimental groups. In the three experimental groups, bilateral palatal mucoperiosteum was excised to three different proportions, i.e. one-quarter, one-half and three-quarters of the palate. Then, the animals were sequentially injected weekly with different fluorescent markers alternately. Three in each group were sacrificed randomly every two weeks with maxilla dissected following injections. The widths of the maxilla and dental arch were measured and the fluorescent labeling investigated at different phases. The results showed that the growth of the maxilla and dental arch here was inversely correlated with the area of denuded bone on palate. Therefore, our data may provide references for optimal treatment of cleft palate.