Background: Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) provides a precise three-dimensional evaluation of greater palatal groove, crest, bridge, and height of alveolar bone, and aiding in optimal implant positioning. Accurate assessment of palatal morphology is crucial for successful implant placement, particularly in procedures involving palatal implants or graft harvesting. Objectives: To evaluate the morphological variations of the posterior palatal groove. To assess the morphological characteristics of palatal crests and bridges. To measure the height of the alveolar bone. Methods: A study of 200 CBCT images acquired from the archives that were generated using 3D MID PROFACE CBCT using RadiAnt software. Participants between 18 and 80 years of age were included. The presence and morphology of the greater palatal groove, crest, bridge, and height of the alveolar bone were analyzed three-dimensionally in the first and second molar regions in both dentulous and edentulous participants. Results: A total of 385 (38.5%) grooves were recorded in both dentulous and edentulous participants in the right and left first and second molar regions. The grooves were categorized as flat (less than 1.5 mm), shallow (ranging from 1.5 mm to 3 mm), and deep (greater than 3 mm). The total number of crests were 77 (7.7%). Alveolar bone height was highest in the 51–60 age group across most molar sites, showing statistically significant differences among age groups ( P < 0.05). Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that prominent palatal grooves are a common anatomical feature in the posterior palate, occurring in a considerable proportion of both dentulous and edentulous individuals. These grooves exhibited marked variability in depth, ranging from shallow (flat) to deep forms, whereas palatal crests were observed less frequently. Alveolar bone height differed significantly across age groups, with the highest measurements recorded in the 51–60-year age category. Overall, the findings highlight substantial anatomical variation within the posterior palatal region.
Jayavarsheni et al. (Thu,) studied this question.