A histologic comparison of palatal mucosa before and after wearing complete dentures

A histologic investigation to study the tissue changes occurring under complete dentures was done. Biopsies were obtained from 40 patients from the area of left side of the hard palate at the first molar region, midway between the median raphe and the residual ridge. The same patients were examined 3 months after placement of well-fitted dentures. Thirty of the 40 patients responded. A second biopsy was taken from the same area on the right side of these patients. On the basis of the microscopic examination, the following conclusions were drawn. 1. The average thickness of the palatal epithelium of edentulous non-denture wearers was 0.222 mm. in the rete peg region. 2. There was a general increase in the thickness of the palatal epithelium following 3 months of wearing complete dentures. 3. The increase in the palatal epithelium was more marked in the rete peg region than in the inter-rete peg region. 4. There was an increase in the thickness of the keratin layer in most patients. 5. No significant changes were found in the granular-cell layer or the prickle-cell layer. 6. The oral mucous membrane responded favorably to well-fitted dentures.