No abstract

Background and ObjectiveThe degree of ossification of the midpalatal suture is an important factor in the selection of treatment procedure, especially in young individuals. Considering the discrepancies in the results of studies on the exact time of the closure of this suture, the present study was undertaken to evaluate ossification and morphology of the suture with the use of CBCT.MethodsIn the present cross-sectional study, the CBCT images of the maxilla in 144 Iranian subjects (72 males, 72 females) with an age range of 10 to 70 years, referring to a private radiology center in Sari, Iran, were evaluated. The CBCT images were evaluated in the axial cross-sectional slice at 1 mm intervals to determine morphology and the maturation stage of the suture and its degree of ossification. The six developmental stages that were observed were as follows: stage A, a direct line without disturbances; stage B, a scalloped appearance in the suture; stage C, two parallel lines with a scalloped appearance that were connected at some points; stage CD, the anterior portion was similar to stage C, and the posterior region was similar to stage D; stage D, ossification only in the palatine bone; stage E, complete ossification of the suture. The degree of ossification of the suture was calculated with the use of the ratio of the length of the ossified segment to the entire length of the suture. Data were analyzed with Spearman’s correlation test, Chi-squared test, t-test, ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U, and Kruskal-Wallis test. Intra-observer agreement was calculated with the use of weighted kappa coefficient. Data were analyzed with SPSS 17.ResultsThere was a strong correlation between the age groups and the developmental stages of the midpalatal suture in both genders (r=0.681, p<0.001). The ossification process occurred in the posterior to anterior direction in 98% of the cases. There was a significant relationship between aging and the degree of ossification (p<0.001); however, the difference was not significant between the two genders (p=0.193).ConclusionAlthough the rate of suture closure increased with aging, age was not a reliable factor alone to determine the developmental stage of the suture. Use of CBCT is necessary in all the patients to determine the degree of ossification and morphology of the midpalatal suture.

No abstract

A shifting pattern from communicable diseases to the chronic noncommunicable diseases and increased life expectancy are being sensed throughout the world. Aged populations with multiple chronic diseases come up with their unique needs and require speciic attention to be challenged by the health systems. Neglected orodental facts among the elders and the dearth of speciic designated undergraduate and postgraduate courses of geriatric dentistry in Iran inevitably adversely affect the delivery of appropriate dental care service to elders by untrained dentists. In this article, a proposal for academic geriatric dentistry courses in Iran is introduced and highlighted with regards to elders' special needs.Arash Poorsattar Bejeh Mir is an Undergraduate Student, Dentistry School,

The premise of complete ossification of midpalatal suture in early adulthood still has its popularity, though conflicting data are emerging in the literature. A 49-year-old male and a 54-year-old female Iranian patient, both dentulous, were referred to a Maxillofacial Radiology Center to be evaluated for implant insertion. In cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) evaluation, an in-ossified suture was found in anterior two-third of midpalatal region of both individuals. The application of clinical vignettes from CBCT findings for maxillofacial orthodontic and orthopedic purposes is of value. Existing cases of successful nonsurgical rapid palatal expansion of maxilla in adults could surrogate this dogma about timing for ossification of midpalatal suture which is considered as a purely chronologic-related phenomenon and transmitted masticatory forces may be one possible cause (functional hypothesis).