Measurements of the Mandibular Arch Using PAL Technique: MRI Study

BACKGROUND: Dental arch measurements varied in different ethnic groups and populations, the dimensions continue changing in accordance with growth and development until the adulthood stage, these changes will decrease. The aim of this study is to measure the mandibular arch among Sudanese, using a new technique which is the PAL in MR images. METHODOLOGY: 50 Sudanese volunteers (25 males/ 25 females) with no history of cranio- fascial trauma were included in this study. Structural MRI was done to all subjects. The measurements of the mandible were done by means of PAL technique via measuring the inter molar distance and mandibular arch using ImageJ software. RESULTS: There was a correlation between age of participants and mandibular arch measurements. And, there was no significant difference between male and female regarding the measurements of the mandibular arch. CONCLUSION: In this study there is a new technique that is the first time used in the measurement of the mandibular arch. We conclude that there was no difference regarding the sex using PAL technique. On the other hand, there is highly significant regarding the length of the inter molar distance in addition there is a positive correlation between age and mandibular arch.