Histological assessment of the palatal mucosa and greater palatine artery with reference to subepithelial connective tissue grafting / 대한해부학회지

This study aimed to measure the thickness of the epithelium and lamina propria of the palatal mucosa and to elucidate the location of the greater palatine artery to provide the anatomical basis for subepithelial connective tissue grafting. Thirty-two maxillary specimens, taken from the canine distal area to the first molar distal area, were embedded in paraffin and stained with hematoxylin-eosin. The thickness of the epithelium and lamina propria of the palatal mucosa was measured at three positions on these specimens, starting from 3 mm below the alveolar crest and in 3-mm intervals. The location of the greater palatine artery was evaluated by using image-processing software. The mean epithelial thickness decreased significantly in the posterior teeth; it was 0.41, 0.36, 0.32, and 0.30 mm in the canine, first premolar, second premolar, and first molar distal areas, respectively. The lamina propria was significantly thicker in the canine distal; it was 1.36, 1.08, 1.09, and 1.05 mm, respectively. The mean length from the alveolar crest to the greater palatine artery increased toward the posterior molar; it was 7.76, 9.21, 10.93, and 11.28 mm, respectively. The mean depth from the surface of the palatal mucosa to the greater palatine artery decreased from the canine distal to the first premolar distal but increased again toward the posterior molar; it was 3.97, 3.09, 3.58, and 5.50 mm, respectively. Detailed histological assessments of the lamina propria of the palatal mucosa and the greater palatine artery are expected to provide useful anatomical guidelines for subepithelial connective tissue grafting.

A Comparative study on the palatal mucosa thickness measurements using periodontal probe and pltrasonic device / 대한치주과학회지

Maxillary palatal mucosa is the most frequently used donor site of the soft tissue for periodontal plastic surgery. In our study, thickness of the palatal mucosa between the mesial side of the maxillary first premolars and the distal side of the maxillary first molars was measured with a periodontal probe and an ultrasonic device in 30 young Korean adults. Using the data, the possibility of the clinical application of ultrasonic devices was evaluated. The results of this study were as follow; 1. The thickness of the palatal mucosa of the maxillary premolars is the thickest and that of the mid-palatal portion of the maxillary first molar is the thinnest. 2. The thickness of the palatal mucosal tissue increases from the gingival margin to the mid-palatal suture. 3. The measurements of the periodontal probe and the ultrasonic device revealed the strong positive correlations.