M‪asoumeh Johari - Assistant Professor, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
F. Esmaeili - Assistant Professor, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Arman Saeedi vahdat - Post-graduate Student, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
S. Naghinejad Ahmadi - Post-graduate Student, Department of orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

Background and aim: The aim of the present study was to measure the thicknesses of bone and soft issues in the mid palatal area at certain points for the placement of orthodontic mini-implants using CBCT and evaluate their relationships with age and gender.Materials and methods: A total of ۱۶۱ subjects were evaluated in the present study, consisting of males (۳۱.۹%) with a mean age of ۴۱.۴۶±۱۳.۸۸ years and females (۶۰.۹%) with a mean age of ۳۸.۴۷±۱۱.۶۶ years. In all the samples ۲۰ points were evaluated. First, the incisive foramen was located. Then para-coronal cross-sections were prepared at ۴-, ۸-, ۱۶- and ۲۴-mm distances from the posterior wall of the incisive foramen; in addition, on each cross-section, the mid-sagittal and para-sagittal areas were determined at ۳- and ۶-mm intervals bilaterally (۵ points on the whole). The soft tissue and bone thickness were measured at these points. Results: The soft tissue thicknesses were significantly different at all the ۲۰ sample points between males and females (P<۰.۰۵). In other words, at all the points the soft tissue thicknesses were significantly greater in males compared to females. In some areas there was a positive relationship between age and soft tissue thickness (P<۰.۰۱), i.e. the soft tissuethickness increased with age. In addition, in the majority of points the overall bone thickness was significantly higher in males compared to that in females; however, in the majority of points, no positive relationship was found between age and bone thickness.. Conclusion: Age was not a determining factor for bone thickness, while where was a stronger relationship between soft tissue thickness and age. In addition, the most appropriate locations for the placement of orthodontic mini-implants were paramedian area at ۳- and ۶-mm distances from the suture, ۴ mm posterior to the incisive foramen. 

Cone beam CT, Mini implant, Anchorage, Mid palatal