فهرست نشریات علمی دسترسی آزاد ایران

Aim: Assessing the midpalatal suture (MPS) maturation is crucial to successfully predicting rapid maxillary expansion. Therefore, radiographic measurement of the suture width is vital for treatment planning. This study compared MPS ossification using cross-sectional maxillary occlusal radiographs and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans to aid clinicians in making better treatment decisions.Methods: In this study, 33 patients were selected as the cohort and categorized into two groups according to their chronological age. Group I included individuals in the growth phase, aged 8‒16 years, while group II encompassed post-adolescent and young adult participants aged 16‒25 years. The percentage of MPS ossification was calculated using the suture obliteration index calculated on axial cross-sectional images. Statistical analysis was performed using the Student’s t-test at a significance level of P<0.05.Results:  No significant difference was found between occlusal radiographs and CBCT scans in assessing MPS ossification in the anterior part (P>0.05). However, significant differences were noted in the suture obliteration index in the anterior (P=0.031) and posterior (P=0.035) parts, with higher mean values obtained by occlusal radiographs. In contrast, significant differences favoring CBCT were found in the anterior part (P<0.001) with higher mean values; no significant difference was found in the posterior part. Lastly, no significant difference was noted in the posterior part between the two imaging modalities (P>0.05).Conclusion: For MPS assessment, both CBCT and occlusal radiography can provide predictable results. However, it is notable that CBCT still has the upper hand in providing better and more accurate results.