Correlation Between Facial Pattern and Midpalatal Suture Maturation in Orthodontic Patients—A CBCT-based Radiographic Study

Introduction Assessment of midpalatal suture maturation is critical to the success of the maxillary arch expansion. Aim and Objectives To find the correlation between the midpalatal suture maturation and facial growth pattern in the age group 15-25 years using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and the corresponding lateral cephalogram. Methods Sixty (60) patients in the age group 15-25 years with lateral cephalogram and CBCT records were evaluated. The sample was divided into three groups according to their growth pattern. Palatal suture maturation was classified into stages “A” to “E.” Based on the above data, the correlation of sutural maturation and growth pattern was evaluated. The chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test were used for group comparisons of categorical data. Statistical significance was kept at p < .05. Results Stage of mid-palatal suture maturation was “C” in 23.3%, “D” in 51.7%, and “E” in 25%, with none in stages “A” and “B,” indicating that obliteration of midpalatal suture starts by 15 years age. A statistically significant association was found between growth pattern and suture maturation stage ( p = .041). In the 15-18 years subgroup, 9% of vertical growers and 45.5% of horizontal growers were in stage “C.” Echoing the same trend, only one patient (5%) with a horizontal growth pattern was in stage “E” as against nine (45%) with a vertical growth pattern in the 15-25 years sample. Conclusion Obliteration of midpalatal suture starts with the formation of bony bridges along the suture by 15 years of age in all growth patterns. Vertical growers had faster midpalatal suture maturation compared to horizontal or average growers, with no correlation between gender and midpalatal suture maturation stage. Horizontal growers in the age group 15-25 years can be subjected to conventional/skeletally anchored maxillary expansion without resorting to the use of CBCT for evaluation of midpalatal suture maturation.