Abstract
Analyze the influence of gender and age on hard palate dimensions and verify the reference parameters available in the literature. Two reviewers independently performed a search at the Cochrane Library, PubMed-Medline and Web of Knowledge databases using descriptors according to the syntax rules of each database. Observational or experimental human studies evaluating the dimensions of the hard palate or maxillary dental arch, with at least one transverse, vertical or sagittal plane measurement, in normal occlusions or class I malocclusions, and comparisons of the dimensions between genders and/or ages. Descriptive analysis with the following subdivisions: design, sample, evaluation instruments, measurements in millimeters, and statistical analysis. Quality of the included studies was verified by the Newcastle - Ottawa Quality scale. Eighteen studies were selected and 11 presented results for hard palate or maxillary dental arch dimensions according to gender, six in age and gender and one in age only. The dimensions were larger in males and progressive increase in the measurements was observed from birth to the permanent dentition period.
Highlights
Orofacial myofunctional evaluation includes a visual and subjective inspection of the hard palate through anthroposcopic assessment
In order to make the use of such resources feasible in clinical practice, knowledge is required of reference parameters for quantitative analysis of the hard palate according to gender and age
When the reference points used for measurement were marked on the gums, they were considered as hard palate dimensions
Summary
Orofacial myofunctional evaluation includes a visual and subjective inspection of the hard palate through anthroposcopic assessment. Current clinical assessment protocols include evaluation of width and depth of the hard palate(1,2), because the morphology of the structures of the stomatognathic system are crucial for the correct processing functions of this system(3). Anthroposcopic assessment of the hard palate is the most frequently used method among pathologists, it has limitations because of the lack of clinical parameters to classify width and depth of the hard palate as normal, reduced or increased. Current research on orofacial myology is aimed at studying quantitative methods of evaluation that can complement orofacial myofunctional clinical examination. There are some resources for quantitative assessment of the hard palate in research whose objective is to compare the dimensions of the hard palate between different clinical groups(4-8) or compare qualitative and quantitative evaluations of the hard palate(3,9). In order to make the use of such resources feasible in clinical practice, knowledge is required of reference parameters for quantitative analysis of the hard palate according to gender and age
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