Gm. Reiser et al., THE SUBEPITHELIAL CONNECTIVE-TISSUE GRAFT PALATAL DONOR SITE - ANATOMIC CONSIDERATIONS FOR SURGEONS, The International journal of periodontics & restorative dentistry, 16(2), 1996, pp. 131-137
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.