Gender variation in palatal bone thickness for mini-implant placement

Objectives: The objective of this study was to compare the bone thickness of the palatal areas in males and females
Methods: This retrospective study reviewed Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans of 361 patients. The scans were divided into 100 growing male (group 1), 105 growing female (group 2), 74 non-growing male (group 3) and 82 non-growing female (group 4). The measurements of palatal bone thickness were made in between canine and first premolar, between first premolar and second premolar, between second premolar and first molar and between first molar and second molar. The measurements were made in the center of the palate and 4mm away from the center of the palate. All the measurements were made using InVivo5.0 software (Anatomage, San Jose, California). Analysis of variance was used to analyze the palatal bone thickness in different area within the group and between 4 different groups.
Results: The palatal bone thickness was significantly less (P<0.005) as we moved from anterior palate to poster palate both in the center of the palate and 4mm away from the palate. In between the canine and first premolar region the bone thickness was significantly higher (P<0.008) 4mm away from the center of palate in all the groups, where as in other regions bone thickness was significantly higher in center of the palate. The male had significantly higher bone thickness when compared to the females. The non-growing male and non-growing female had significantly higher bone thickness when compared to growing male and growing female respectively.
Conclusions: The palatal bone thickness was significantly less in females. These descriptive findings will help clinicians to decide ideal locations of mini-implant placement in the different regions of the palate.