Assessment of palatal bone thickness in adults with cone beam computerised tomography.

AIMS To determine the most suitable region of the palate for the insertion of miniscrews. METHODS The subjects were 72 adult patients between 20 and 44 years of age. The thickness of the bony palate was determined with digital volumetric tomography. Bone thickness was measured 4, 8, 16 and 24 mm posterior to the incisive foramen and 0, 3, and 6 mm lateral to the midline of the palate. RESULTS The thickest bone was found 4 mm behind and 6 mm lateral to the incisive foramen. The bone thinned progressively from anterior to posterior and from medial to lateral. A median ridge of bone was present in the 8, 16 and 24 mm sections. In these sections the thickest bone was close to the suture. CONCLUSION The hard palate offers several suitable sites for the insertion of miniscrews for orthodontic purposes. The areas behind the incisive foramen and to one side of the median palatal suture have adequate bone for miniscrews.