Anatomical Study and Clinical Considerations of Greater Palatine Foramen in Adult Human Skulls of North Indian Population

Abstract

Introduction : The knowledge of position of greater palatine foramen is fundamental in oral surgery interventions because the neurovascular bundle, greater palatine nerve and vessels emerge through it and can be principally assessed here for performing anaesthetic techniques for desensitization of the hard palate or harvesting a gingival mucoperiosteal graft. Aim : The present study was carried out to identify the morphological shape, position and location of greater palatine foramen and the direction of greater palatine foramen in adult human skulls. Materials and Methods: The location of the greater palatine foramen in relation to 3rd molar along with shape and direction of the opening on palate was observed in 50 (25 males and 25 females) adult human dry skulls of North Indian population. The perpendicular distance of GPF from mid-maxillary suture and posterior border of hard palate was also measured on both sides. Measurements were done with vernier caliper. Results: The mean distance of the greater palatine foramen from palatine suture was 13.38 mm while the mean distance from posterior border of hard palate was 3.36 mm. There was no statistically significant difference between male and female skulls as well as right and left sides. Conclusion: It was concluded that the 3rd molar can be taken as a reliable landmark for locating greater palatine foramen and in cases of unerupted 3rd molar, palatine suture and posterior border of hard palate can be used as standard landmarks for this purpose.

Keywords

• dental anaesthesia
• greater palatine canal
• hard palate
• molar teeth