SEXUAL DIMORPHISM AND INTERGROUP FEATURES OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE HARD PALATE IN FOREIGN STUDENTS WHO ARRIVED FROM ASIAN AND AFRICAN REGIONS

Objective: To identify sexual dimorphism and intergroup features of the structure of the hard palate among foreign students from the Asian and African regions. Materials and methods: In the course of this descriptive clinical study, 211 foreign students were examined, including 99 men, 112 women, the average age was 23.02 ± 2.48 years. Participants filled out an anonymous questionnaire, impressions were taken, and diagnostic models were made on which the parameters of the palate were measured (length, width, and depth in the area of the first molars, index of palatine height). Results: When assessing the parameters of the palate, sexual dimorphism was revealed in the length, width, and depth of the palate in the area of the first molars, as well as the palate depth index. The length of the palate was significantly higher in women than in men (46.47 ± 2.76 mm and 44.28 ± 1.98 mm, respectively (p = 0.047)), while the width of the palate was higher in men than in women (38.67 ± 1.31 mm and 35.95 ± 2.17 mm (p = 0.033)). Participants from Persian and Arab ethnic groups had longer and wider palates compared to others. Students from African region had slightly shorter palate length and width, and the shallowest palatal vault depth was found in students from China. When assessing the palate depth index, low palate (hamedolichostaphilia) was found in 37 people (17.7%), middle palate (orthodolychostaphilia) in 155 people (73.3%), and high palate (hypsidolichostaphilia) in 19 people (9.0%). Conclusion: Although the parameters of the hard palate demonstrate both sexual dimorphism and intergroup variability, neither factor is associated with significant variability in the morphology of the hard palate. The differences in size are significant, but small in absolute terms. The number of languages/dialects/languages spoken since childhood demonstrates a significant relationship with the depth of the palate in the area of the first molars.