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New supplemental landmark for the greater palatine foramen as found deep to soft tissue: application for the greater palatine nerve block

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Abstract

Purpose

Many researches have investigated the morphology of the greater palatine foramina using dry skulls and cone-beam computed tomography. In most studies, some structures in the hard tissue have been measured and statistically analyzed. However, none of the studies has analyzed this foramen in regard to its location with overlying soft tissues, which is so clinically relevant. Therefore, this study was performed to provide the knowledge about relationship between the greater palatine foramen and foveola palatina for a better understanding of dental procedures such as greater palatine nerve block.

Methods

Thirty sides, from fifteen fresh cadaveric heads, were used in this study. The specimens were derived from eight males and seven females. A 27-gauge needle was inserted into the fossa, which was palpated at the edge of a dental mirror at a 45° angle to the occlusal plane and parallel to the sagittal plane. The anteroposterior distance, which was parallel to the midline, between the penetration site and foveola palatina was measured.

Results

All the penetrations advanced to the greater palatine foramen. The distances ranged from 2.0 to 8.3 mm on right sides, and 1.1 to 8.2 mm on left sides, respectively.

Conclusion

The results of this study could help dentists identify the correct location of the greater palatine foramen with a supplemental landmark.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank individuals who donated their bodies for the advancement of education and research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Seattle Science Foundation, Seattle, WA, USA

    Joe Iwanaga, Vlad Voin, Christian Fisahn, Rod J. Oskouian & R. Shane Tubbs

  2. Department of Anatomy, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan

    Joe Iwanaga

  3. Dental and Oral Medical Center, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan

    Joe Iwanaga

  4. Department of Restorative Dentistry and Biomaterial Sciences, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA, USA

    Allen Ali Nasseh

  5. Tsukiyama Dental Clinic, Fukuoka, Japan

    Junta Kido, Teppei Tsukiyama & Yasuhiko Kamura

  6. Division of Endodontics, Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, New York, USA

    Yasuhiko Kamura

  7. Advanced Education in General Dentistry, Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA

    Tsuyoshi Tanaka

  8. Swedish Neuroscience Institute, Swedish Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA

    Christian Fisahn, Fernando Alonso & Rod J. Oskouian

  9. Department of Anatomical Sciences, St. George’s University, West Indies, Grenada

    R. Shane Tubbs

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  1. Joe Iwanaga
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  2. Vlad Voin
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  3. Allen Ali Nasseh
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  4. Junta Kido
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  7. Tsuyoshi Tanaka
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  8. Christian Fisahn
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  9. Fernando Alonso
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  11. R. Shane Tubbs
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joe Iwanaga.

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Iwanaga, J., Voin, V., Nasseh, A.A. et al. New supplemental landmark for the greater palatine foramen as found deep to soft tissue: application for the greater palatine nerve block. Surg Radiol Anat 39, 981–984 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-017-1829-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-017-1829-8

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