The Size of the Infantile Palate

Abstract

It is accepted among those interested in orthodontia that congenital, hereditary and also acquired conditions are factors in the etiology of malocclusion and mouth breathing. The former are at

Anatomical, functional, physiological and behavioural aspects of the development of mastication in early childhood

“…2(b) ) has been reported to increase from 6·5 to 11·5 mm in all the studies, with a mean value of about 9 mm. Hohoff et al ( 15 ) , Bakwin & Bakwin ( 13 ) and Procter et al ( 14 ) reported similar growth from 8 to 10 mm from birth to 12 months of age, and Denzer ( 12 ) did not report such growth and data are scattered about 9 mm at all ages. Knowing the palatal width and height, the authors determined the palatal index ( Fig.…”

“…If one considers the bone structure, the dimensions of the palatal arch seem to be an obvious measure of bone development. In most measurements of the palatal arch dimensions (width, height and length) that have been reported since the early decades of the twentieth century, very simple techniques (essentially a ruler or caliper) have been used ( 12 – 14 ) . Currently, more complex methods involving laser three-dimensional scanning of dental polymer casts are being used ( 15 ) as well as magnetic resonance imaging ( 16 ) , although magnetic resonance imaging is not geared towards the imaging of bone tissue and thus could be less accurate than the previously mentioned techniques.…”

“…It is interesting to note that both maxilla and mandible grow in length by a similar amount of about 20–25 mm. When comparing the palatal and mandibular dimensions of infants ( 12 , 13 , 15 , 16 ) with those of older children ( 16 , 17 ) and adults ( 16 , 18 ) , it appears that the bone dimensions (palatal width, height and length and mandibular length) seem to evolve as much over the first year of life as they do between 1 year of age and puberty, after which growth continues until the bones reach the adult dimension by 18 years of age. This suggests that a high lever exists on orofacial anatomy modelling during the weaning period, hence the importance of offering appropriate textures at this age to support orofacial growth.…”

An Investigation into the Morphometric Developments of the Maxillary and Mandibular Arches during the Fetal Period

“…Sillman (1965) and Bishara et al (1997, 1998) considered some gingival grooves (especially the lateral groove) and protrusions as landmarks for arch measurements from birth onward. Denzer (1921), on the other hand, obtained casts from infants up to a year old and made measurements of the upper alveolar arch at the widest and longest points. Similarly, Kraus (1960), who examined the maxilla, palatine bones, and the upper alveolar arch, and Freiband (1937), who examined the palatal arch form, used the anterior, posterior, and lateral reference points.…”

“…The measurements of the arches parameters were performed by means of thin rulers and using the landmarks that had been described in the previous studies (Denzer, 1921; Freiband, 1937; Ewers, 1968).…”