Rapid palatal expansion is commonly uesd to correct maxillary transverse deficiency. The timing and effects of palatal expansion, and the choice of palatal expansion devices are related to the condition of midpalatal suture. Nowadays, there are several methods to assess the condition of midpalatal suture, including physiological age, skeletal age, occlusal film, CT, ultrasonography and so on. This narrative review seeks to review these methods for assessment of midpalatal suture.
Palatal Expansion Technique ; Cranial Sutures/diagnostic imaging* ; Maxilla/diagnostic imaging* ; Palate/diagnostic imaging*

Objective To explore the value of degree of cranial suture closure in forensic adult age estimation by thin-layer CT scan and establish an adult age estimation model of the Han nationality. Methods Thin-layer CT scan samples of the heads of 220 healthy Sichuan Han adults （110 males, 110 females） aged 20 to 70 were collected, of which 20 samples （10 males, 10 females） were randomly selected as test samples. The sagittal suture, coronal suture （both left and right） and lambdoid suture （both left and right） were respectively and equally divided into 2 segments, and every segment was equally divided into 10 layers and the corresponding multiplanar reformation （MPR） images were selected. The closure of cranial sutures on MPR images was classified into the grades 1-7. The correlations between cranial sutures and age were analyzed to build regression equation for age estimation. Results The degree of closure of sagittal suture, coronal suture （both left and right） and lambdoid suture （both left and right） was positively correlated with age. The coefficient of determination （R²） of regression equation was 0.419 in males, 0.589 in females, and 0.522 in all samples. The results of the verification test showed that the mean absolute error （MAE） was 6.39 years in males, 6.16 years in females, and 6.29 years in all samples. Conclusion There was a higher accuracy in adult age estimation by thin-layer CT scan of cranial sutures. The age of Han nationality adults can be estimated by the degree of cranial sutures closure.
Cranial Sutures/diagnostic imaging* ; Female ; Head ; Male ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between morphological stages of midpalatal suture (MPS) and Demirjian dental age. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 1 076 cone-beam CT (CBCT) images (female: 675, male: 401; age range: 6.0 to 21.0 years) were included. Horizontal view of each sample's CBCT images was observed, each sample's MPS stage was recorded, and dental age. MPS stage and dental age were ordered with categorical variables. Therefore, their correlation was investigated through Spearman correlation coefficient analysis and diagnostic test analysis. RESULTS: (1) For left lower second premolar: 95.2% of those in dental age stage B-D were in MPS 1-2, accounting for the largest proportion. 85.3% of those in dental age stage E were in MPS 1-2, still accounting for the largest proportion. Another 14.7% were in MPS 3.45.1% of those in dental age stage F were in MPS 3, 46.1% in MPS 1-2, and another 8.8% in MPS 4s1.49.8% of those in dental age stage G were in MPS 3.24.9% in MPS 4s1, and 18.9% in MPS 1-2.80.1% of those in dental age stage H were in MPS 4-5. Another 16.3% were in MPS 3. (2) For left lower second molar: 89.7% of those in dental age stage B-D were in MPS 1-2, accounting for the largest proportion. 67.4% of those in dental age stage E were in MPS 1-2, still accounting for the largest proportion. Another 26.1% were in MPS 3.55.3% of those in dental age stage F were in MPS 3, 34.2% in MPS 1-2, and another 10.5% in MPS 4s1.50.7% of those in dental age stage G were in MPS 3, 24.3% in MPS 4s1, and 16.8% in MPS 1-2.83.8% of those in dental age stage H were in MPS 4-5, another 14.2% were in MPS 3. (3) To diagnose MPS stage with dental age, diagnostic pairs with good performance included: Dental age of left lower second molar-MPS: H-4s2, H-5, D-1; Dental age of left lower second premolar-MPS: H-4s2, H-5, G-3. Other diagnostic pairs were of ordinary diagnostic efficiency. (4) For dental age-MPS Spearman correlation analysis, dental age of left lower second molar-MPS had the highest Spearman coefficient (0.68), dental age of left lower second premolar-MPS was the second high (0.64). (5) Dental age stage H of left lower second molar or left lower second premolar indicated that the individual was later than MPS 4s2. CONCLUSION Dental age's diagnostic efficiency for MPS stage is ordinary on the whole, except for some pairs with good performance. Therefore, pre-treatment CBCT examination should be considered as assistance for evaluating maturation and fusion status of midpalatal suture.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; China ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Cranial Sutures/diagnostic imaging* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Sutures ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study was to explore suppositional sutural construction and protraction in the three-dimensional finite element model of craniofacial complex.

METHODSCombining spiral CT scanning technology with the three-dimensional finite element method, three-dimensional FEM model of craniofacial complex was developed for analysis. In the model, craniofacial sutures were constructed through the MSC. Patran program and different mechanical properties of sutures were applied. Under the same loading condition, bone displacements of the maxilla were calculated.

RESULTSA three-dimensional FE model of craniofacial complex, comprising teeth and craniofacial sutures, was developed. The displacement of the skeletal structures with sutures was significantly larger than that without sutures.

CONCLUSIONSThe construction of craniofacial sutures in the three-dimensional finite element model of craniofacial complex could improve the accuracy of finite element model, which set up good foundation for biomechanical studies of craniofacial complex.

Cephalometry ; methods ; Child ; Cranial Sutures ; anatomy & histology ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Finite Element Analysis ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Materials Testing ; Radiography