Authors
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
2 Post-graduate Student, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
3 Post-graduate Student, Department of orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Abstract
Background and aim: The aim of the present study was to measure the thicknesses of bone and soft issues in the mid palatal area at certain points for the placement of orthodontic mini-implants using CBCT and evaluate their relationships with age and gender.
Materials and methods: A total of 161 subjects were evaluated in the present study, consisting of males (31.9%) with a mean age of 41.46±13.88 years and females (60.9%) with a mean age of 38.47±11.66 years. In all the samples 20 points were evaluated. First, the incisive foramen was located. Then para-coronal cross-sections were prepared at 4-, 8-, 16- and 24-mm distances from the posterior wall of the incisive foramen; in addition, on each cross-section, the mid-sagittal and para-sagittal areas were determined at 3- and 6-mm intervals bilaterally (5 points on the whole). The soft tissue and bone thickness were measured at these points.
Results: The soft tissue thicknesses were significantly different at all the 20 sample points between males and females (P<0.05). In other words, at all the points the soft tissue thicknesses were significantly greater in males compared to females. In some areas there was a positive relationship between age and soft tissue thickness (P<0.01), i.e. the soft tissue
thickness increased with age. In addition, in the majority of points the overall bone thickness was significantly higher in males compared to that in females; however, in the majority of points, no positive relationship was found between age and bone thickness..
Conclusion: Age was not a determining factor for bone thickness, while where was a stronger relationship between soft tissue thickness and age. In addition, the most appropriate locations for the placement of orthodontic mini-implants were paramedian area at 3- and 6-mm distances from the suture, 4 mm posterior to the incisive foramen.
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