Thickness of Palatal Mucosa and Related Parameters

Background and Aim: The palatal mucosa is a common donor site for gingival grafting. The thickness of mucosa in the hard palate and tuberosity is different in different populations. The aim of this study was to assess the thickness of palatal and tuberosity mucosa and related parameters in patients referred to Isfahan dental centers. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 52 patients referred to Isfahan dental centers who were selected by simple random sampling. The thickness of two sites behind the second molar in the tuberosity mucosa and six sites in two lines in the palatal mucosa was measured near the canine, second premolar and second molar teeth with a 27-gauge short cannula. The data were analyzed by t-test, paired t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. P<0.05 was considered significant. Results: In this study, 21 male and 31 female patients were included. The mean age of male and female patients was not significantly different (P=0.25). The majority of patients had a thin biotype and the biotype became thicker with age. The thickest area in the palate was at the site of second premolar tooth, but the tuberosity mucosa was the thickest among all the measured sites. Conclusion: The thickness of tuberosity mucosa was greater than the palatal mucosa, but it has a smaller volume for tissue grafting. In the palatal mucosa, the canine-premolar area has optimal thickness for harvesting and has a safe distance from important anatomical sites.