Radiological evaluation of the bone and soft tissue thicknesses of the palate for using a miniscrew-supported maxillary skeletal expander.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the palatal bone and soft tissue thicknesses using a miniscrew-supported maxillary skeletal expander (MSE) in Class III malocclusion. The thicknesses of the palatal bone and soft tissue were measured in cone-beam computed tomography images obtained from 58 patients. All 20 points were crossing points between five levels, which were defined at 3mm intervals relative to the line connecting the central fossae of the first molar (Level 0), and 2mm and 4mm lateral to the anteroposterior reference line (AP line). The palatal bone was significantly thicker in males than females in the anterior palate up to Level 0, while there was no significant sex-related difference in the posterior palate. There was a tendency for the thickness to decrease in the posterior direction, except in females at 2mm lateral to the AP line. The palatal soft tissue was significantly thicker in males than females in all positions. At 2mm lateral to the AP line, the palatal soft tissue thickness decreased in the posterior direction. A 4mm lateral to the AP line, it initially decreased in the posterior direction, and then increasing again at Level - 6 (6mm posterior of Level 0). As the lateral distance from the AP line increased, the palatal bone thickness decreased while the palatal soft tissue thickness increased. These findings provide quantitative data on the palatal bone and soft tissue thicknesses for the miniscrew-supported MSE in the posterior palate.