Palatal Bone Thickness Available for Placement of Orthodontic Implants

Palatal Bone Thickness Available for Placement of Orthodontic Implants
M.V. THOMAS, C. DYER, and D.A. PULEO, University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA
March 2004
Clinical Implant Studies
Objectives: Implants have been used to provide anchorage for orthodontic tooth movement. One commercially available orthodontic implant is designed to be placed in the midline of the palate. Following placement, the implant is allowed to integrate, after which it is attached to two maxillary teeth (usually contralateral premolars or molars). It was felt that under some circumstances, it might be desirable to place an implant in a paramedian position. It was, therefore, decided to measure the thickness of palatal bone in the midline and paramedian areas to determine suitability for implant placement. Methods: 20 cadaver specimens were examined. These specimens had been sectioned in the midsagittal plane. A special jig was constructed to allow measurements of bony thickness at the midline and paramedian sites (located 5 mm to the right and left of the midline). Measurements were taken at three points corresponding to the first premolar, second premolar, and first molar. Results: The mean measurements at the first premolar were 4.84, 4.99, and 4.98 mm at the midline, left paramedian, and right paramedian, respectively. Corresponding figures from the second premolar were 4.64, 4.69, and 4.66 mm. In the first molar site the mean values were 4.39, 4.41, and 4.39 mm. Conclusion: Palatal thickness was thickest anteriorly. The mean value in the first premolar site was 4.84 at the midline (range 3.5 to 6.4 mm). Some sites were insufficiently thick to accomodate 4 or 6 mm orthodontic implants.