Comparison of median and paramedian regions for planning palatal mini-implants: a study in vivo using cone beam computed tomography

The purpose of this study was to compare the bone height at the median and paramedian sites of the hard palate using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). CBCT images of 110 subjects were selected and the palatal bone height measured in the coronal view of multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) images at the midsagittal site and at paramedian sites, 3 mm and 6 mm bilaterally, in the region of the upper first premolars; NemoCeph 3D software was used. Intra-observer and inter-observer agreement was assessed using the intra-class correlation coefficient. Differences between the median site and paramedian sites were calculated with the Friedman test. No significant differences were found among the sites evaluated (P > 0.05). Paramedian sites at 3 mm and 6 mm bilaterally from the palatal suture showed comparable height to the central site. The observed comparable bone height might be helpful in increasing the choice of host sites for palatal implants. The alternative placement of implants in the paramedian regions is not indicated as a viable treatment option for patients with insufficient bone height, but represents a feasible alternative for mini-implant insertion in patients in whom the middle region should be avoided.