Evaluation of palatal dimensions in different facial patterns by using digital dental casts

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the variations of hard palate volume in adults with normal occlusion and different facial types and patterns, by using a three-dimensional analysis on digital casts. Methods: The dental casts of 70 Caucasian adults (28 men, 42 women), mean age of 16.4 years (SD 1.3 years), were scanned by using a tridimensional scanner (Delcam PowerSHAPE™, 2010, Birmingham, UK). Close points were selected in the gingival and cervical regions on the lingual surface of the maxillary teeth, to analyze palatal morphology. The facial patterns and types, and the measurements (width, length, height, volume) of the space on the hard palate were compared using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), with age as the covariate, and sex as the independent variable. The significance level of 5% (p 0.05 for all variables). Conclusion: There were no significant differences for the facial patterns and facial types of the individuals compared in the analyzed sample.