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

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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.

Results

The 12 characteristics were classified into either the
alveolar ridge characteristics group, which determined the size of the alveolar ridge, or the palate characteristics group, which
determined palate morphology, with each group showing different growth patterns. The characteristics of width and length increased
with age in the alveolar ridge characteristics group; this correlation was maintained throughout the predental period. Meanwhile, in the
palate characteristics group, the characteristics showed major developmental changes in the first 2 to 3 months after birth, but the
changes were subsequently fewer from 3 to 7 months. The PCA of the palatal vault showed that the first principal component increased
until 3 months but subsequently ceased to change. CONCLUSIONS: In predental infants, growth patterns of palate morphology differed
according to their characteristics. There were major developmental changes in the palate during the first 3 months after birth. The study
findings suggest that palate growth in the first half of the predental period may affect subsequent palate growth.

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