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Surg Radiol Anat (2009) 31:245250 DOI 10.1007/s00276-008-0432-4
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Anatomical study of the greater palatine artery and related structures of the palatal vault: considerations for palateas the subepithelial connective tissue graft donor site
Sebastian Krystian Klosek Thanaporn Rungruang
Received: 10 April 2008 / Accepted: 9 October 2008 / Published online: 28 October 2008 Springer-Verlag 2008
Abstract Palate is considered as a tissue graft donor site for dental surgical procedures. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the anatomy of palatal structures, such as greater palatine artery, greater palatine foramen, and incisive fossa, in order to consider their topography at planning the graft dimensions and reduce the potential risk of injury of greater palatine artery. Direct inspection of 41 Thai cadavers was performed. The results showed the statistically signiWcant diVerences as for the length of female and male palates (p = 0.017); however, vertical measurements were equally distributed in examined population. Main location of greater palatine foramen was palatal to the second molar (35.7%), as well as, interproximal to the second and third molars (35.7%) in women, and palatal to the second molar in men (65%). GPA was branching most frequently at the level of Wrst premolar (38%) and at Wrst and second molars together (43%) in women. In men, the branching on the alveolar process side was commonly observed at the level of Wrst and second premolars together (56%), and at the level of second and third molars together (32%). In the area between maxillary Wrst premolar and second molar, it appeared possible to harvest a connective tissue graft measuring at least 5 mm in height. The results of this research will provide the useful data for other comparative studies and for assisting periodontologists in
planning the dimensions and harvesting the subepithelial connective tissue grafts from palate.
Keywords Greater palatine artery Greater palatine foramen Connective tissue graft Palate
Palatal mucosa
Introduction
Palate is covered with masticatory oral mucosa which is widely used as a tissue donor site, especially in periodontal plastic surgery. The surgery of parodontium is at present indispensable part of modern periodontal therapy [6]. Free gingival grafts and connective tissue grafts can be obtained from palate, and used to correct or eliminate the deformities of alveolar or gingival mucosa [18]....