Background: The aim of the present study was to assess thickness of all par
ts of the masticatory mucosa by using an ultrasonic measuring device.
Methods: A total of 40 periodontally healthy subjects, 19 to 30 years old,
took part. Thickness of masticatory mucosa was measured at a maximum of 149
sites in each proband.
Results: Female volunteers had significantly thinner mean masticatory mucos
a than males (p<0.01). Mean thickness of facial gingiva ranged between 0.7
mm at canines in the maxilla and central incisors in the mandible and 2.3 m
m at 3rd molars in the mandible. In the mandible, thickness of lingual ging
iva ranged between 0.9 mm at lateral incisors and 2.3 mm at 3rd molars. Int
erdental gingiva ranged between 1.0 mm 2.1 mm. With 3 mm or more, on averag
e, palatal masticatory mucosa was thickest in the 3rd molar region and at 2
nd premolars at more central locations. 2 regions with comparatively thin p
alatal mucosa of about 2 mm were identified, namely (i) at central and late
ral incisors and (ii) at the prominence of the palatal roots of 1st and 2nd
molars. The thickest tissue with more than 4 mm. on average, was observed
in the tuberosity and retromolar regions.
Conclusions: Considerable intra- as well as interindividual variation of th
ickness of masticatory mucosa could be observed. According to differences i
n thickness of facial and interdental gingiva, it appears that lining is al
so an important function of the gingiva in reducing and smoothing the prono
unced convexities of the dentoalveolar, i.e., skeletal, complex.