Morphometric analysis of hard palate in eastern Indian population

Abstract

Background: Knowledge of morphologic variation of hard palate is very important to dental surgeons as well as to anthropologists. Aim: Our study aimed to measure various parameters of hard palate and details of location of greater palatine foramen with reference to some anatomical landmarks in human skull in eastern Indian population. Materials and Methods: 120 dry human skull bones have been studied in an institution in eastern India. Length, breadth and height of hard palate were measured. Location and dimensions of greater palatine foramen with respect to incisive foramen, midline maxillary suture, posterior border of the hard palate, base of pterygoidhammulus and posterior nasal spine were measured. Direction of greater palatine canal was also noted. Results: The mean palatal height, breadth and length were 12.31 ± 3.25 mm, 33.86 ± 2.77 mm and 42.68 ± 1.99 mm in male and 13.75 ± 2.86 mm, 32.94 ± 2.37 mm and 39.01 ± 0.74 mm in female skulls respectively. The position of greater palatine foramen was at level of 3rd molar teeth in most of the skull (85.2% in male skulls and 86.67% in female skulls).

Keywords

• greater palatine foramen
• hard palate
• incisive foramen