Height and shape of the palate in girls: A longitudinal study

Abstract

Absolute dimensions, dimensional relations and age changes of the normal human palate are presented for a group of American caucasoid females. Primary attention is focused on palatal height. Height, width and depth of the palate were obtained on dental casts at ages 5 years, 9 years and 12 years for the same 50 girls, at age 15 years for 25 of these girls, and at age 17 years for 12 of the girls. The reliability of the technique employed was found to be high. Findings are presented in tables and graphs for the three palatal dimensions and for three indices. Using landmarks on the deciduous second molars at ages 5 years and 9 years, the mean height increased 1.3 mm, mean width, 1.7 mm and mean depth, 0.7 mm. Changing to landmarks on the permanent first molar teeth at age 9 years, no difference was found for determination of the highest point of the palate. From age 9 years to 12 years, the annual increment in height was the same as that of the previous 4 years. From age 12 years to age 15 years, the average annual increase in height was less, though not consistently so for individual girls. The biennium following age 15 years produced almost no change in the height dimension. Typical individual growth curves for palatal height over a 12-year age span are presented along with curves to illustrate the range of increment variation.