Background and Aims: Recently, the use of the palatal process as a source of autogenous bone graft has been considered. Given the anatomical limitations of this space, the assessment of available bone in this area can play an important role in the correct treatment plan. The aim of this study was to assess the amount and density of available bone for the preparation of autogenous graft from the maxillary palatal process using CBCT (Cone Beam Computed Tomography).
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted by collecting CBCT images from 78 patients referred to one of the maxillofacial radiology clinics in Kermanshah in 2022 and 2023. All the patients had no signs of trauma, impacted teeth, pathological lesions, cleft palate, severe periodontitis, or extensive surgery, and also had all the teeth in the area of interest (right first premolar to left first premolar) and their bone growth was completed (age over 20 years). The CBCT images were collected and analyzed using the ondemand program. Different indices such as the area of each cross-sectional slice, bone volume (main variable) were measured with the help of mathematical formula, bone density, and incisive canal diameter. In order to test the hypotheses, the Smirnov-Kolmogorov test was used to check the normality of data, and since none of our variables were normal, we used Spearman and Mann-Whitney correlation tests.
Results: This study was conducted on 78 subjects with a mean age of 43 years, 39 of whom were female and 39 of whom were male. The mean bone volume obtained was 1.84 cm3. The highest bone density was observed in the lateral incisor region and the mean incisal canal diameter was reported to be 2.68 mm. According to the results of the Spearman test, none of the variables had a significant relationship with the age variable. According to the results of the Mann-Whitney test, there was no significant difference in bone density in the lateral, canine, and premolar tooth areas between men and women. However, available bone volume was associated with gender, and this amount was calculated to be greater in men than in women.
Conclusion: According to the findings of this study, the average bone volume in the anterior region of maxilla was 1.51 cm3 and the highest bone density was in the lateral tooth region. The average incisal canal diameter was 2.68 cm3 and the available bone volume was related to gender and this value was higher in men than that of women. However, there was no difference in the bone density between men and women.
