Research on the variation pattern of midpalatal suture density ratio in children aged 6 to 15 years old

MA Yu-wen; ZENG Wei-jia; YU Xing; LI Xiao-bing

doi:10.19538/j.kq.2025.05.012

Abstract：Objective To study the variety patterns of the midpalatal suture density ratio in children of different ages(6 to 15 years old)and genders to provide reference for clinical diagnosis and the timing of palatal expansion treatment.Methods The clinical and imaging data of 164 children aged 6 to 15 years old who visited the West China Hospital of Stomatology from January to December 2023 were collected and analyzed retrospectively.The three-dimensional model of the maxillary complex was reconstructed using Dolphin Imaging software based on cone beam CT data of children.Soft tissue was filtered out to obtain palatal images.ImageJ software was used to measure the grey density of the middle pala-tal suture and the average grey density of both sides of the palate.The ratio was recorded as the midpalatal suture density ratio,and the differences in the midpalatal suture density ratio in children of different ages and genders were compared.Results The best regression curve between the midpala-tal suture density ratio and age was a fourth power regres-sion curve in male children(R2=0.606,P＜0.001),and a fifth power regression curve in female children(R2=0.591,P＜0.001).The change trend of the midpalatal suture density ratio could be divided into flat,declining and rising periods,the corresponding age groups of male children were 6-10 years old,＞10-13,and＞13-15 years old,and the midpalatal suture density ratio was 0.629±0.065,0.510±0.078,and 0.535±0.042.Except for the comparison between the declining and rising periods,the comparisons of mid-palatal suture density ratio between each two of other periods showed statistically significant differences(P＜0.05 for all);the corresponding age groups of female children were 6-9,＞9-12,and＞12-15 years old,and the midpalatal su-ture density ratio were 0.593±0.062,0.491±0.075,and 0.554±0.061.There were statistical differences in the midpal-atal suture density ratio between each two periods(P＜0.05 for all).Children aged 6-15 were divided into 5 age groups on average.Among them,there were statistically significant differences in the midpalatal suture density ratio in children aged＞7-9,＞9-11,and＞13-15 between different genders(P＜0.05 for all);there were no statistically significant dif-ferences in the midpalatal suture density ratio in children aged 6-7 and＞11-13 between different genders(P＞0.05 for all).Conclusion There are differences in the development process of the midpalatal suture in children between differ-ent genders.The time point of the change in regression curve between the midpalatal suture density ratio and age in the female is about 1 year earlier than that in the male.Based on the research results and clinical experience,the periods of 7-10 years old in the male and 7-9 years old in the female may be a better opportunity for maxillary expansion,which provides some reference for the formulation of clinical personalized correction plans.