Palate and alveolar ridge development in predental infants: a longitudinal study

Authors

  • F Ishida Nihon University Graduate School of Dentistry at Matsudo, Matsudo, Chiba
  • Y Ukai The University of Tokyo Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Tokyo
  • T Shimizu Nihon University School of Dentistry at Matsudo, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Matsudo, Chiba, Japan Nihon University Research Institute of Oral Science, Matsudo, Chiba

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.23804/ejpd.2016.2.12.155

Keywords:

Alveolar ridge, Development, Growth, Newborn infant, Palate morphology, Predental period

Abstract

AIM: To investigate the developmental process of palate morphology, including the alveolar ridge, in healthy infants for the predental period of 7 months from immediately after birth. MATERIALS METHODS: The subjects were 32 healthy infants. Four or more dental casts were taken of each subject from immediately after birth until 7 months, for a total of 144 dental casts. Twelve characteristics were then measured in order to morphologically study the subjects' palate development. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to investigate morphological changes in the palatal vault.