Gender and growth variation in palatal bone thickness and density for mini-implant placement

BACKGROUND: The objective was to compare the palatal bone thickness (PBT) and palatal bone density (PBD) in the anterior, middle, and posterior part of the palate in males and females. METHODS: This retrospective study reviewed cone beam computed tomography scans of 359 patients. The scans were divided into 99 growing males, 105 growing females, 74 non-growing males, and 81 non-growing females. The measurements of PBT and PBD were made in between the canine and first premolar, the first premolar and second premolar, the second premolar and first molar, and the first molar and second molar. The measurements were made in the center of the palate and 4 mm away from the center. ANOVA was used to analyze the PBT and PBD in different areas between four different groups. RESULTS: The PBT was lower (P < 0.0001) as we moved from the anterior to the posterior palate. The PBT was more (P < 0.001) in the center of the palate than 4 mm away from the center, except in between the canine and first premolar. The growing male and non-growing male had higher (P < 0.0001) PBT than the growing female and non-growing female in between the canine and first premolar and the first premolar and second premolar both in the center and 4 mm away from it. The PBD was higher (P < 0.05) in between the canine and first premolar area at the center of the palate and between the second premolar and first molar 4 mm away from the center in all the experimental groups. CONCLUSIONS: There exists a definite gender and growth variation in the PBT and PBD in different parts of the palate. Palatal bone thickness between the males and females revealed that the males had significantly higher PBT than the females.