Biomaterial Database

Palatal measurements of prematurely born, very low birth weight infants: comparison of three methods. 1993

K M Morris, and W K Seow, and Y R Burns

Mater Mothers Hospital, Brisbane, Australia.

To enable investigation of palatal changes in infants who are prematurely born, it is necessary to first establish a reliable method of measurement of these tiny edentulous palates. This study compared the Olivetti-Inspector machine, Vernier calipers, and stereophotogrammetry for this purpose. Measurements were taken of 12 palatal casts of four infants at prescribed time intervals during the neonatal period. In each of the three methods, measurements were recorded as variables generated in the X and Z axes of the Cartesian scale in relation to three specified points along the Y axis. The results revealed that all methods were comparable, but the Vernier calipers differed significantly from the other two methods in height measurements, (p < 0.001). It was also found that both the Olivetti-Inspector machine and the Vernier calipers consistently underestimated the width, compared with Olivetti-Inspector machine, (p < 0.05). Stereophotogrammetry was found to be the most consistent method of measuring the configuration of preterm infant palates.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007230	Infant, Low Birth Weight	An infant having a birth weight of 2500 gm. (5.5 lb.) or less but INFANT, VERY LOW BIRTH WEIGHT is available for infants having a birth weight of 1500 grams (3.3 lb.) or less.	Low Birth Weight,Low-Birth-Weight Infant,Birth Weight, Low,Birth Weights, Low,Infant, Low-Birth-Weight,Infants, Low-Birth-Weight,Low Birth Weight Infant,Low Birth Weights,Low-Birth-Weight Infants
D007231	Infant, Newborn	An infant during the first 28 days after birth.	Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D007234	Infant, Premature	A human infant born before 37 weeks of GESTATION.	Neonatal Prematurity,Premature Infants,Preterm Infants,Infant, Preterm,Infants, Premature,Infants, Preterm,Premature Infant,Prematurity, Neonatal,Preterm Infant
D010159	Palate	The structure that forms the roof of the mouth. It consists of the anterior hard palate (PALATE, HARD) and the posterior soft palate (PALATE, SOFT).	Incisive Papilla,Incisive Papillas,Palates,Papilla, Incisive,Papillas, Incisive
D010780	Photogrammetry	Making measurements by the use of stereoscopic photographs.	Stereophotogrammetry,Photogrammetries,Stereophotogrammetries
D002138	Calibration	Determination, by measurement or comparison with a standard, of the correct value of each scale reading on a meter or other measuring instrument; or determination of the settings of a control device that correspond to particular values of voltage, current, frequency or other output.	Calibrations
D002508	Cephalometry	The measurement of the dimensions of the HEAD.	Craniometry
D003761	Dental Impression Technique	Procedure of producing an imprint or negative likeness of the teeth and/or edentulous areas. Impressions are made in plastic material which becomes hardened or set while in contact with the tissue. They are later filled with plaster of Paris or artificial stone to produce a facsimile of the oral structures present. Impressions may be made of a full complement of teeth, of areas where some teeth have been removed, or in a mouth from which all teeth have been extracted. (Illustrated Dictionary of Dentistry, 1982)	Dental Impression Technic,Dental Impression Technics,Dental Impression Techniques,Impression Technic, Dental,Impression Technics, Dental,Impression Technique, Dental,Impression Techniques, Dental,Technic, Dental Impression,Technics, Dental Impression,Technique, Dental Impression,Techniques, Dental Impression
D003765	Models, Dental	Presentation devices used for patient education and technique training in dentistry.	Dental Models,Dental Model,Model, Dental
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man