Mini‐implants are titanium alloy rods implanted in the bone of the hard palate to help secure dental prostheses like dentures, fixed crowns, and bridge installations. Recent research suggests presurgical determination of bone density quality provides increased mini‐implant surgical success rates. In replication of these methods, we evaluated 19 tomographic scans of crania using Osirix 8.5 imaging software. Bone density was recorded at 90 separate coordinates using Hounsfield units, measured at three millimeter intervals (mediolaterally and anteroposteriorly starting at the incisive foramen.) The data was then analyzed for age differences and average bone density throughout different regions of the hard palate including intra‐ and interobserver analysis. Sex differences were closely investigated in this study because prior research has indicated that women may have a higher palatal bone density than men.Support or Funding InformationStudent Summer Scholars Grant, Office of Undergraduate Research, Grand Valley State University
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