Abstract

Background:Greater palatine foramen is located approximately at 1cm medial and adjacent to second molar toothand is important for maxillary nerve blocks, hemostatic procedures, and the treatment of neuralgia; although statistical data available about its collocationneeds to be explored, such as the effect of the cranium size.
Materials&Methods: The present study was conducted to assess the location of greater palatine foramen on 100 dried adult skull bones of unknown sex. The parameters were measured with digital vernier caliper with 0.01 mm precision symmetrically, right and left side. The data obtained were analyzed statistically.
Results: It was observed that the most common location of greater palatine foramen was opposite to the third molar. On the right side, 65% greater palatine foramen was located opposite to the 3rd molar in the skull and in 25% skulls it was located between second and third molar and in 10% skulls it was situated behind the third molar tooth. On the left side, in
65% greater palatine foramen was located opposite to the 3rd molar in the skulls and in 30% it was located between second and third molar and 5% behind the third molar tooth. The mean distance between greater palatine foramen to mid maxillary suture was 13.73mm on right side and 13.74 mm on left side. The mean distance between greater palatine foramen to posterior border of hard palate on right side was 4.65mm and 4.52mm on left side. The mean distance between greater palatine foramen and incisive fossa was 36.77mm and 36.69 mm on the right and left side respectively. The mean distance between greater palatine foramen and lesser palatine foramen was 1.43mm on right side and 1.46mm on left side.
Conclusion: The present study concluded that the most common location of greater palatine foramen was opposite to the third molar. The mean distance between greater palatine foramen to mid maxillary suture was more on left side. The mean distance between greater palatine foramen to posterior border of hard palate was more on right side. The mean distance between greater palatine foramen and incisive fossa was more on right side. The mean distance between greater palatine foramen and lesser palatine foramen was more on left side.