Frequency and distribution of palatal osseous alveolar marginal exostoses--POAMES

1,272 human skulls were examined for frequency and distribution of POAMES--palatal osseous alveolar marginal exostoses. The sample consisted of Blacks, Mixed, Whites and Chinese as well as adult edentulous and dentate child skulls. POAMES were most prevalent between 35 and 45 years of age, appeared most commonly in the maxillary third molar region, followed by the second and first molar region, occurred most frequently bilateraly and were least prevalent in Blacks. The overall prevalence of POAMES was 14.5 per cent with a female to male ratio of 1:3,5. Ridge POAMES occurred most frequently, followed by combined, ledge and the nodular exostose types. It did not occur in children or edentulous adults.