Evaluating the internal architecture of the postnatal human maxilla across the stages of tooth development and eruption.

PURPOSE: General growth as well as functional demands that are associated with developmental needs of young individuals are said to contribute to the changes in micro-architecture of maxilla. However, little is known about the nature of these changes on the maxilla, particularly across the different stages of dental development and eruption. Thus, this study aimed to assess variations in micro-architecture of the alveolar region of the human sub-adult and adult maxilla across different stages of dental development and eruption. METHODS: The study sample included seventy-nine individuals, subdivided into three dentition groups: deciduous dentition (n = 28), mixed dentition (n = 9), and permanent dentition (n = 42). Maxillae were scanned using micro-computed tomography. Seven regions were selected in each dental crypt for evaluation of micro-architecture which included bone volume ratio, bone surface to bone volume ratio, trabecular thickness, trabecular number, and trabecular spacing. RESULTS: The micro-architecture of the maxilla changed from a more porous to a less porous nature, following patterns of remodeling that are due to the general process of bone growth and related functional demands. These changes included an increase in bone volume fraction while bone surface to volume ratio and trabecular number both significantly decreased. CONCLUSION: The observed changes reflect the normal growth differences, the state of the dentition, as well as the functional adaptation of the oral cavity.