Measurement of epithelial thickness within the oral cavity using optical coherence tomography

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the present study was to determine normal values of epithelial thickness within the oral cavity by using optical coherence tomography (OCT).

METHODS: In a total of 143 healthy test persons, epithelial thickness of the oral mucosa was determined with the help of OCT separately for each side at 7 different locations. Special attention was directed to those sites having the highest incidence for the development of dysplasias and carcinomas.

RESULTS: The epithelium demonstrated a varying thickness depending on its location within the oral cavity. The highest values were found in the region of the buccal mucosa (294 μm) and the hard palate (239 μm), whereas the thinnest epithelium was measured at the floor of the mouth (99 μm).

CONCLUSION: Our data serve as reference values for detecting oral malignancy and determining the approximate grade of dysplasia. In this circumstance, a differentiated view of the different regions is important due to a variation in thickness of the epithelium within the oral cavity.