Objective:

The purpose of this study was to measure the thickness of the palatal bone using cone beam computed tomography images for placement of mini-screws and their relationship with palatal vault depth.

Methods:

This study was performed on 150 maxillary cone beam computed tomography images, 50% (n = 75) had deep palate and 50% (n = 75) had normal palate and 27.3% (n = 41) were male and 72.7% (n =109) were female. Coronal sections with a thickness of 1 mm were prepared at distances of 4 mm, 8 mm, 12 mm, 16 mm, 20 mm, and 24 mm from the posterior wall of the incisive foramen. Then, in each section, in the midsagittal line and at distances of 2 mm, 4 mm, 6 mm, 8 mm, and 10 mm from that to the lateral sides, the bone thickness was measured. The Korkhaus index was used to identify the patients with a high palatal vault.

Results:

The results showed that at the posterior sections in the midsagittal and parasagittal area, a significant difference (P < .05) was observed between deep and normal palate, and in these points, the bone thickness in the normal palate was greater. Also, in the section of 4 mm and 8 mm, a significant difference was observed between males and females in most of these points, and those were greater in males than females.

Conclusion:

The maximum thickness of the palatal bone was observed first along the midsagittal line and then the paramedian and in the anterior section. Patients with deep palate had less palatal bone thickness in the posterior sections.

Keywords: Cone beam computed tomography, mini-screw, mini-implant, palatal bone thickness, palatal depth