Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the bone thickness in the anterior palate and to test whether there is any dependency between bone thickness and patient's age or gender and whether there is any difference between left and right sides. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cone beam computed tomographic (CBCT) evaluations (n = 431; 229 females, 202 males) of healthy orthodontic patients aged 9-30 years were selected from the database of the imaging center network Mesantis. In each CBCT image, palatal bone thickness was determined as the median and 2, 4, 6, and 8 mm paramedian bilaterally. Bone height was measured perpendicularly to the bony surface at 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, and 20 mm from the cementoenamel junction of the maxillary central incisor in the sagittal plane. RESULTS: The greatest bone thickness was found in the lateral anterior palate. Palatal bone thickness of male patients was on average 1.2 mm greater than that of females. Bone height of 9-13-year-olds was less than that of older patients. No difference could be determined between the left and right side. CONCLUSIONS: The lateral anterior palate offers the greatest bone thickness. Because there is considerable variation of bone thickness between individuals, a CBCT evaluation is recommended if maximum screw length is to be used.