[Free mucosal grafts: a technic for obtaining grafts with a newly developed mucotome]

"Free gingival grafts--a technique for obtaining grafts using the Mucotom": A new instrument with a mechanically oscillating blade for obtaining grafts from a palatal donor site was designed. The Mucotom can be attached to a dental unit. In 27 patients aged 18 to 46 the width of the attached gingiva in the mandibular anterior and bicuspid region was widened using for each case three independent grafts of ultrathin, thin and intermediate thickness. Each graft taken with the Mucotom was measured clinically in the center and at both ends using a Mitotoyo thickness measuring gauge. The average (+/- stand. dev.) thicknesses were in millimeters: 0.37 +/- 0.09 (M I), 0.55 +/- 0.12 (M II) and 0.75 +/- 0.14 (M II) respectively. Grafts obtained by manual scalpel preparation averaged 0.96 +/- 0.15 mm. Grafts of intermediate thickness (M III) showed excellent clinical healing of the donor and the recipient site. The precise cutting of the instrument and the direct visual control of the instrument's guidance produced grafts of uniform thicknesses and without microlacerations.