상피하결합조직이식을 위한 입천장 점막과 큰입천장동맥의 정성적 분석

Abstract

Subepithelial connective tissue grafting (SCTG) is widely used for root coverage and ridge augmentation to satisfy the esthetic and functional demands of patients. The purpose of this study was to measure the thickness of epithelium and lamina propria of palatal mucosa, and to elucidate the greater palatine artery in supplying blood to the adjacent palatal gingiva in Korean. Sixteen cadaver heads (32 hemimaxillae) were examined (13 male and 3 female, mean age: 57.1 years). The maxillae were decalcified for 2 months and each maxilla specimen was horizontally sectioned at interdental line from canine distal to first molar distal, perpendicular to midpalatal suture. And then the sectioned specimens were processed for embedding in paraffin and microsectioned to a thickness of 7 ㎛. These histologic sections were stained haematoxylin-eosin and observed by the light microscope. On these histologic specimens, the thickness of epithelium and lamina propria of palatal mucosa were measured at 3 points starting from 3 ㎜ below the alveolar crest with an interval of 3 ㎜, and the location of greater palatine artery was evaluated using the image processing software. The epithelial thickness of palatal mucosa was 0.41 ㎜ (canine distal), 0.36 ㎜ (first premolar distal ), 0.32 ㎜ (second premolar distal), and 0.30 ㎜ (first molar distal), thus significantly decreasing toward the posterior tooth. The lamina propria thickness of palatal mucosa was 1.36, 1.08, 1.09, and 1.05 ㎜, respectively, the canine distal was significant difference with another tooth sites. The length from the alveolar crest to the greater palatine artery was 7.76, 9.21, 10.93, and 11.28 ㎜, respectively, increased toward the posterior molar tooth. The depth from the surface of palatal mucosa was 3.97, 3.09, 3.58, and 5.50 ㎜, respectively, decreased from canine distal to first premolar distal but increased again toward the posterior molar tooth, with the inmost at the first molar distal. The qualitative analysis on the thickness of epithelium and lamina propria of the palatal mucosa and location of the greater palatine artery are expected to provide anatomical guideline for the subepithelial connective tissue grafting.

..................................................................................... Key Words: Palatal mucosa, Lamina propria, Greater palatine artery, Qualitative analysis, Subepithelial connective tissue grafting