Examination of palatal bone thickness with cone beam computed tomography in patients with different sagittal skeletal patterns: an evaluation in terms of mini screw application

Aim: The aim of our study is to determine the differences in palatal bone thickness in the anteroposterior and mediolateral directions of the maxilla when the maxilla is anterior, posterior or in a normal position in the sagittal plane. Materials and Methods: This research was carried out on Cone Beam Computed Tomography sections taken from 100 patients aged between 18-40 who applied to Çukurova University Faculty of Dentistry between 2018 and 2022. Dolphin Imaging Version 11.8.06.22 (Dolphin Imaging and Management Solutions, Chatsworth, CA, USA) Program was used to evaluate the position of the maxillary sagittal plane with cephalometric radiographs in 100 patients who met the inclusion criteria. Palatal bone thickness measurements were made with Romexis 5.2.0 software (Planmeca Oy, Helsinki, Finland) using 14 reference points in each of the patient groups divided into 3 groups according to the position of the maxilla in the sagittal plane. Statistical analysis of the data was carried out using the SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) 25.0 package program. Results: The patients whose maxilla is forward have higher palatal bone thickness than the patients whose maxilla is backward and in neutral position in the sagittal plane. A significant change in palatal bone thickness was detected between the patients whose maxilla is forward and backward (p<0.05). In the maxilla, palatal bone thickness decreases from anterior to posterior and from medial to lateral. This decrease is observed more clearly in the patients whose maxilla is forward (p<0.05). When male and female patients were evaluated, palatal bone thickness was higher in men than in women however the male patients whose maxilla is forward have higher palatal bone thickness than those whose maxilla is in the backward and neutral position. It has been stated that palatal bone thickness in the female patients is not affected by whether the maxilla is in the forward, backward or normal position. Palatal bone thickness did not change with age in the groups. Conclusion: Palatal bone thickness of patients with forward maxilla was found to be significantly higher than backward and neutral position. Palatal bone thickness decreases towards the posterior and lateral aspects of the maxilla.