A Focus on Variation in Morphology of Soft Palate Using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography with Assessment of Need's Ratio in Central Madhya Pradesh Population.

Abstract

Soft palate is an anatomical structure that helps in modifying the quality of voice and to breathe while swallowing. Through the variants and shapes of the soft palate, we can assess the age and gender of an individual. The aim of the present study was to investigate the variation in morphology of soft palate and to find its association with the Need's ratio, Velar Length (VL), Velar Width (VW) and Pharyngeal Depth (PD), in age groups and gender using CBCT in Central Madhya Pradesh population. The study sample consisted of 121 CBCT scans of individuals aged between 15 to 45 years. These scans were retrieved from the Department of Oral Radiology. The velar morphology on CBCT was examined and grouped into six types. The results obtained were subjected to a statistical analysis to find the association between variants of the soft palate with gender and different age groups. ANOVA and Z-test were used for statistical analysis. The p≤0.05 was considered as significant while p≤0.001 was considered as highly significant. The most frequent type of soft palate was rat tail shaped. The mean VL and VW values were significantly higher in males while PD and Need's ratio were higher among females, insignificantly associated with the types of soft palate. A significant association was observed between the mean VL and VW with various age groups, showing an increase in values with an increase in age. A variation in morphology of soft palate plays an important role in the assessment of velopharyngeal closure and in diagnosing obstructive sleep apnoea individuals.