Evaluation of palatal mucosal thickness and its association with age and gender

The palatal masticatory mucosa is widely used as donor material for periodontal plastic surgery. The thickness of graft tissue is important for graft survival. We investigated the thickness of palatal mucosa using a bone sounding technique. We also examined the relation of age and gender to the thickness of palatal mucosa. Fifty healthy subjects were divided into a younger age group of 25 subjects, 14-21 years old (mean, 19 years); the older age group consisted of 25 subjects, 30-59 years old (mean, 34.4 years). A bone sounding method using a periodontal probe and endodontic spreader no. 60 was used to assess the thickness of palatal mucosa at 15 pre-determined sites defined according to the gingival margin and palatal lines. Student's 't' test was used to validate differences in mucosal thickness between the groups. The mean thickness of palatal masticatory mucosa ranged from 2.5 to 3.7 mm. The younger age group had a thinner mucosa than the older age group and females had a thinner mucosa than males. The canine and premolar areas appeared to be the most appropriate donor sites for grafting procedures.