Document Type : Original Articles

Authors

• Zahra Dalili Kajan ¹
• Ali Moshajari ²
• Narges Kakaei ³
• Ehsan Kazemnejadleili ⁴

¹ Professor, Department of Maxillofacial Radiology, School of Dentistry, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.

² Assistant Professor, Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry (International Branch of Anzali), Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Guilan, Iran.

³ Dentist, Rasht, Iran.

⁴ Associate Professor, Department of Statistics and Epidemiology, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction: Sutures are important intermediaries in the skeletal growth and biomechanical treatments, by changing their morphology during normal growth. The aim of this study was to observe and assess the changes in the morphology of mid-palatal suture in the age group of 8 to 25 years by using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images in an Iranian population living in Guilan province.
Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study done based on 128 CBCT images of the patients who referred to an Oral and maxillofacial radiology center in the city of Rasht at 1393 to 1394. Three line status of (1)vast distinct lucent,(2) slim distinct lucent and (3)indistinct and six marginal status of (A)smooth, (B)opened scallop, (C)closed scallop, (D)smooth to open scallop, (E)opened to closed scallop and (F)smooth to closed scallop identified and defined. Data analysis was done by Chi-square, Fisher's exact and one way ANOVA tests with the level of significance less than 0.05.
Results: Vast distinct lucent and  slim distinct lucent with frequency of %71.1 and %26.6 was the most common Line status of mid-palatal suture, in age range of 16-20 and 11-15 respectively. The most common marginal status was smooth (%57.0) in age range of 16-20, second was opened scallop (%25.0) in age range of 21-25, and closed scallop (%12.5) was the third common status that was in the age range of 11-15. From the point of view of the most marginal status in combination with line status smooth margin in connection with vast and slim distinct lucent was the common status with frequency of %64.68 and %41.2 that we observed subsequently, and the only indistinct line status was connected with closed scallop. There was no significant difference between sex, among mean age levels and totally among different age groups about form and marginal status of the midpalatal suture. 
Conclusion: It seems that chronological age and gender could not be appropriate standard criteria for determining of developmental status of suture’s line and margin during growth. 
Key words: Cranial suture, Cone Beam Computed Tomography, Palate.