Morphological Analysis of Stages of Midpalatal Suture Maturation in Adolescents and Young Adults using Cone Beam Computed Tomography in Saudi Population

The midpalatine suture is an active site for growth of maxillary bone.Developmental abnormalities of the suture can result in various malformations and malocclusions.The morphological stages of maturation can act as a predictor for maxillary bone expansion especially, after childhood.Hence the aim of the present study was to evaluate the stages of midpalatal suture maturation among adolescents and young adults using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).A retrospective CBCT analysis was carried out in a Saudi population.163 cases were evaluated and staged according to a standard classification using CBCT.The results of our study showed a sex showed statistically significant differences in the stages of maturation.The suture was found show evidences of initiation of ossification above 17 years of age.The possibilities to find an open non ossified suture was 11.65 % in 10-13 years, 30.06 % in 14-17 years, 15.33 % in 18-21 years and 6.74 % in 22-25 years.The findings of this study reinforce the usefulness of CBCT to evaluate the stages of midpalatal suture maturation in aiding the decision for the treatment of maxillary bone developmental abnormalities that requires maxillary bone expansion procedures.