The anterior palate as a donor site in maxillofacial bone grafting: a quantitative anatomic study.

PURPOSE

The goal of this study was to quantify the amount of bone graft material present in the anterior palate site.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-one fixed cadavers, dentulous and edentulous maxilla, were studied. Osteotomies were performed in monocortical fashion, 2 mm from the bone crest and parallel to the tooth axis and 3 mm from the incisive foramen at the midline. The bur penetration was indicated by radiographic index. The amount of the corticocancellous block was then measured with displacement volumetric technique.

RESULTS

The average volume obtained were 2.03 mL in dentate and 2.40 mL in edentulous patients ( P = .2135, not significant between the 2 groups).

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the results of this study, it is apparent that the anterior region of the palate can be reliably selected as the donor site in the oral and maxillofacial reconstructive, implantology, and periodontal regeneration procedure.