A Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Study of the Greater Palatine Foramen

Abstract

The greater palatine foramen (GPF) is located in the postero-lateral angle of the hard palate. We aimed at studying these topographical patterns of the GPF. A random retrospective Cone Beam Computed Tomography study was performed on 104 archived case files. There was recorded on each side the topographical type of the GPF. Edentulous sites were noted “E”. Bilateral symmetry of the GPF was determined as “right-left” combinations of types. In 41 cases were found bilateral 4E types corresponding to the GPF located medially to the edentulous site of the third upper molar. In 19 cases was recorded the bilateral combination „4+4”: the GPF was at the level of the third upper molars. Most existing studies did not document the bilateral combinations of GPF types. We demonstrate that if on one side the GPF has a certain topographical pattern it is not mandatory for the opposite one to have the same tooth-related topography.