Thickness of posterior palatal masticatory mucosa: the use of computerized tomography

BACKGROUND: Periodontal plastic surgery is used to fulfill the esthetic and functional demands of patients. The palatal masticatory mucosa is the main donor site for connective tissue, and the thickness of the graft tissue obtained is an important factor for the success of this technique. The aim of this study was to measure the thickness of masticatory mucosa in the posterior palatal area using computerized tomography (CT). METHODS: The thickness measurements were performed on the images of 100 adult subjects who underwent CT on the maxilla for implant surgery. Twenty-four standard measurement points were defined in the hard palate according to the gingival margin and the middle palatal suture. The radiographic measurements were used after calibration. The data were analyzed to determine the differences in the mucosal thickness according to gender, age, tooth position, and depth of the palatal vault. RESULTS: The overall mean thickness of the palatal masticatory mucosa was 3.83 +/- 0.58 mm (range: 2.29 to 6.25 mm). Females had significantly thinner mean masticatory mucosa (3.66 +/- 0.52 mm) than males (3.95 +/- 0.60 mm) (P