THE SUBEPITHELIAL CONNECTIVE-TISSUE GRAFT PALATAL DONOR SITE - ANATOMIC CONSIDERATIONS FOR SURGEONS

Surgeons must become completely familiar with the anatomy of the palat al donor site to feel confident in providing the subepithelial connect ive tissue graft procedure. Variations in the size and shape of the ha rd palate affect the dimensions of donor tissue harvested, as well as the location of the greater palatine neurovascular bundle. This articl e classifies palatal vaults according to height as high, average, and shallow. illustrations and cadaver dissection are utilized to demonstr ate that surgeons can gain substantial donor tissue specimens without encountering the neurovascular bundle. Actions to be followed in the u nlikely event that the neurovasculature is encountered are reviewed.