Morphometric Analysis of the Foramen Palatinum Majus by Cone-beam Computed Tomography

Abstract

Objective:The aim of this study was to detect possible variations of the foramen palatinum majus (FPM), by imaging with cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), and to make a morphometric comparison of FPM in dentate and edentulous individuals.Methods:In the study, CBCT recordings of 250 individuals, 125 dentate and 125 edentulous individuals, in the archive of the Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology were retrospectively analyzed. The diameter of the FPM, its position relative to the molar teeth, its shape (round, ovoid, slit), its distance from the midmaxillary suture (MMS), and its distance from the incisive foramen (IF) were evaluated. The SPSS V.21 software (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) was used for the analysis of the data and it was considered significant at the p<0.05 level.Results:The records of 122 female and 128 male patients aged between 18 and 86 years (52±16) were examined. In dentate individuals, FPM was most frequently located in the region between the second and third molars, 54.4% on the right and 56.8% on the left. The most common FPM shape was ovoid, with 80% on the right and 74.4% on the left. The diameter of FPM, FPM-MMS, and FPM-IF distance showed a statistically significant difference between dentate and edentulous individuals, and the values of edentulous individuals were higher (p<0.05).Conclusion:Since the position of the FPM in the maxilla changes with tooth loss, dentists should be careful in surgical and anesthesia procedures in this region.

Keywords

• greater palatine foramen
• maxilla
• cone-beam computed tomography