Bone quality in the midpalate for temporary anchorage devices.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to quantitatively assess the bone quality of the palatal bone from an implantologic standpoint.


METHODS
The material consisted of palatal tissue blocks of autopsy material from 22 subjects (19 male, three female), between 18 and 63 years of age. The specimens comprised the anterior part of median palate (APMP) from about 7 mm behind the incisive foramen (first premolar regions), the middle part of median palate (MPMP, second premolar region), and the posterior part of the median palate (PPMP, first molar region). They were prepared in the transversal plane using ground-thin-section technology. The midpalatal areas of the different parts of the palate [regions of interest (ROI) for temporary anchorage device (TAD) placement] 3 mm bilaterally to the midline were assessed with respect to hard tissue fraction to total bone volume (HTF/TBV), bone marrow fraction to total bone volume (BMF/TBV), and sutural tissue fraction to total bone volume (STF/TBV). Furthermore, age-specific evaluation was performed: younger age group (18-25 years, n=10) and older age group (26-63 years, n=12).


RESULTS
Histomorphometric measurement showed the following results for the APMP: mean HTF/TBV, 68.57%; mean BMF/TBV, 21.38%; and mean STF/TBV, 9.96%. There were no statistically significant differences between the various tissue fractions of the APMP, MPMP, and PPMP. The younger age group showed a mean HTF/TBV of 68.88%, a mean BMF/TBV of 21.5%, and a mean STF/TBV of 9.53%. No statistically significant differences with the older age group were found.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the HTF in the APMP, MPMP, and PPMP in younger as well as older adults is relatively high. Thus, good primary stability of TADs should be achieved in all parts of the adult median palate independent of age.
Wehrbein
Heinrich
H
Department of Orthodontic Clinic/Dentofacial Orthopedics, University Hospital, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany. wehrbein@kieferortho.klinik.uni-mainz.de
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015519:Bone Density; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D002102:Cadaver; D003393:Cranial Sutures / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D015921:Dental Implants; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D052280:Orthodontic Anchorage Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D021362:Palate, Hard / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D055815:Young Adult
D015921:Dental Implants