EVALUATION OF MIDPALATAL SUTURE MATURATION IN THREE AGE GROUPS IN 10-25 YEARS USING CONE-BEAM COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY

The decision to perform a palatal separation in cases of constricted maxilla has historically relied on the age of the patients. However, there is an increasing amount of literature suggesting that age should not be the only consideration in this decision.The primary objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of various stages of midpalatal suture maturation in age groups of adolescents, post-adolescents, and young adults. In addition, the objectives include the examination of potential correlations between maturation stages and different maxillary measurements.The sample comprised 180 CBCT scans of samples aged 10 to 25 years old consisting of 82 males and 98 females. According to Angelieri's method classification, in the cross-sectional axial slice, the midpalatal suture was categorized into five stages (A, B, C, D, E) based on the level of maturation observed. The samples were categorized into three distinct groups: adolescents, post-adolescents, and young adults. Stages A, B, and C were regarded as open midpalatal sutures, while stages D and E were regarded as partially or completely fused midpalatal sutures. Maxillary measurements were measured in the coronal slices at the level of maxillary first molar including buccal and palatal alveolar crest, palatal depth, palatal index and palatal vault angle.The most prevalent stage of MPS maturation was C (27.7%), followed by E (21.1%) and D (20.5%). The MPS was not fused in 105 of a total of 180 samples (58.3%) of the overall samples with stages A, B and C). In the males, the most prevalent Stage was D (23.1%); for females, the most prevalent stage was C (32.6%). within the age group 10-15 years. It was possible to determine the open midpalatal suture in (97.8%), but in the age group 16-20 years and 21-25 years the midpalatal suture was found opening in (44.3%) and (43.6%), respectively. Also, the maxillary width and depth were larger in males than in females. Conclusions: In a sample of 180, it was shown that the MPS was not united in 105 individuals, (CBCT) plays a crucial role in assessing the potential possibility of palatal disjunction. Positive correlation between stage and palatal depth.