title: [A longitudinal research on palate growth in the normal mixed dentition by three-dimensional image analysis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the trait of the palate growth and to provide a method of three-dimensional image analysis on revealing the entire variation of palate.
  
  
  METHODS
  A longitudinal study on the palate growth of 30 subjects (male 8, female 22) with normal occlusion during mixed dentition was carried out by three-dimensional image analysis. The observation period was from 7 to 10 years of age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During growth, the palate vaults in 16 cases (53%) descend for 1-5 mm, whereas, the palate vaults in 14 cases (47%) ascend for 2.6 mm at most.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The variations of palate growth can be investigated by three-dimensional image analysis. During growth, the palate vault may descend or ascend, which shows the individual differences of oronasal function.
authors.affiliation: School of Stomatology, Beijing Medical University, Beijing 100081.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003818:Dentition, Mixed; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D010159:Palate / Q000254:growth & development*; D013997:Time Factors