25 - Article analysis of bone and gingival thickness in different palatal regions using cone-beam computed tomography in subjects with and without maxillary transverse deficiency

Abstract

Transverse maxillary deficiency is a highly prevalent malocclusion, present in all age groups, in individuals who have already passed the bone growth phase, using techniques of maxillary disjunction assisted by mini-implants. The objective was to compare measurements in different regions of the palatine bone and soft tissue of the palate in Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) in individuals with and without transverse maxillary deficiency, identifying the most favorable sites for insertion of mini implants. The research consisted of a retrospective study with 65 CBCT, 16 tomographies of men and 15 of women, 31 years old on average, with transverse maxillary deficiency. And, 14 tomographies of men and 20 of women, with an average of 33.3 years without transverse maxillary deficiency. The measurements were obtained in 3 positions on the hard palate: distal of the first premolar, distal of the second premolar and distal of the first molar. Statistical analyses were performed using the Shapiro-Wilk test and paired t-test. The results showed that the thickness of the palatine bone was greater in the distal region of the first premolars, decreasing in the distal regions of the second premolars and first molars, with the highest values being at the palatine suture in both groups. Gingival thickness was greater in group A at the distal region of the first premolars. The width of the palatine vault bone ridge was greater in group B at the height of the alveolar bone crest. The width of the gingival ridge was greater at the height of the alveolar bone crest at the distal region of the second premolars in group B, while in group A it was at the distal region of the first molars. The thickness of the gingival mucosa was greater in group A at the median height of the root in the distal region of the first molars. The anatomical structure of the palatine bone differs greatly between individuals, making it important to analyze CBCT for planning the palatine mini-implants.