Morphology and morphometry of the greater palatine foramen: A radio‐anatomical study using cone‐beam computed tomography

Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the morphology and morphometry of the greater palatine foramen (GPF) using cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT). Materials and Methods This study included 300 CBCT images and a total of 600 GPFs were evaluated bilaterally. GPF morphology was categorised as round, antero‐posteriorly elongated (APE), or latero‐medially elongated (LME). The distance of GPF relative to the palatine suture (PS), the incisive foramen (IF), and the palatine alveolar ridge (PAR), the distance between the right GPF (GPFr) and left GPF (GPFl) and the angle formed by GPF, IF, and PS were evaluated. The GPF location was also assessed in reference to the maxillary molars. Results 64.1% of total GPFs were APE in shape. Male patients presented higher GPF‐related linear and angular measurements on both sides ( p < 0.05). Patients aged ≥25 years had larger distances between GPFr–PS, GPFl–PS, GPFr–GPFl, and GPFl–IF ( p = 0.001, p = 0.009, p < 0.001, and p = 0.048, respectively; p < 0.05). Patients aged ≤24 years showed a larger distance between GPFl–PAR ( p = 0.011; p < 0.05). The distance between GPFl–IF was larger compared to the distance between GPFr–IF, but the angle between GPFr–IF–PS was larger than the angle between GPFl–IF–PS ( p = 0.043 and p = 0.004, respectively; p < 0.05). 64.83% of all GPFs were located opposite the maxillary third molar. Conclusion The shape and location of the GPF exhibit considerable variability. CBCT is a valuable diagnostic modality for assessing anatomical differences in the GPF.