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Assessment of palatal mucosal thickness and location of the greater palatine foramen using cone-beam computed tomography: a retrospective study

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Abstract

Objectives

This study aimed to measure the palatal mucosal thickness and examine the location of the greater palatine foramen using cone-beam computerized tomography (CBCT).

Methods

In this study, cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of the maxillary posterior region of 120 subjects were evaluated. The palatal mucosal thickness (PMT), palatal width and depth, and location of the greater palatine foramen (GPF) were determined on CBCT. The differences in the palatal mucosal thickness according to gender and palatal width/palatal depth were analyzed. The location of the GPF related to the maxillary molars was noted.

Results

The mean palatal mucosal thicknesses from the canine to the second molar teeth were 3.66, 3.90, 4.06, 3.76, and 3.92 mm, respectively. The mean PMT at the second premolar was statistically thicker than at other regions (p < 0,001). There was no relationship between PMT and gender. However, the palatal depth and width of the males were greater than females. (p = 0.004 and p = 0.014, respectively) PMT in the low palatal vault group had statistically higher compared to the high palatal vault group. (p = 0.023) Greater palatine foramen was mostly observed between second and third molar teeth. (48%).

Conclusions

According to our results, first and second premolar regions can be preferable in soft tissue grafting procedures for safe and successful treatment outcomes. The measurement of the thickness of the palatal mucosa and the evaluation of the greater palatine foramen location before the surgical procedures are essential steps to harvest from the ideal donor site and to achieve optimal surgical outcomes.

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Data availability

Data is available upon request from the corresponding author.

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Funding

The study was supported by Baskent University Research Fund.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Baskent University, Ankara, Turkey

    Bahar Füsun Oduncuoğlu & Ipek Naz Karasu

  2. Department of Dentomaxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Baskent University, Ankara, Turkey

    Hazal Karslioğlu

  3. Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Ankara Medipol University, Ankara, Turkey

    Mediha Nur Nisanci Yilmaz & Elif Inonu

Authors
  1. Bahar Füsun Oduncuoğlu
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  2. Hazal Karslioğlu
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  3. Ipek Naz Karasu
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  4. Mediha Nur Nisanci Yilmaz
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  5. Elif Inonu
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Contributions

All authors have made substantial contributions to data collection, conception and design, acquisition of data, interpretation of data and initial and final drafting of the manuscript and were accountable for all aspects of the work. BFO, MNNY, Eİ and İNK contributed to data analyses and critically revised the manuscript. HK contributed to data collection and prepared figures. All authors gave final approval of the version to be published and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Elif Inonu.

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There is no conflict of interest to declare.

Ethical approval

This study was approved by Baskent University Institutional Review Board (Project no: D-KA21/08). The study was performed in accordance with the ethical standards of the Helsinki Declaration.

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Oduncuoğlu, B.F., Karslioğlu, H., Karasu, I.N. et al. Assessment of palatal mucosal thickness and location of the greater palatine foramen using cone-beam computed tomography: a retrospective study. Oral Radiol 39, 784–791 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11282-023-00699-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11282-023-00699-2

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