Siriwat Thunyacharoen; Anak Iamaroon & Pasuk Mahakkanukrauh

To study the morphometric location of the incisive, greater, and lesser palatine foramina for maxillary nerve block. Two hundred Thai dry skulls were randomly organized from the Forensic Osteology Research Center. The distances of the parameters were measured via Vernier caliper.: Thedistances from the incisive foramen to the incisive margin of the premaxilla were 10.93±2.42 mm in males and 10.98±2.06 mm in females. From the left side, the incisive foramen to the greater palatine foramen (GPF) was39.07±2.23mm in males and 38.57±2.41 mm in females, and from the right side were 39.81±2.37 mm in males and 38.62±2.53mm in females. From the left side, the incisive foramen to the lesser palatine foramen (LPF) was 43.16±2.23 mm in males and 41.84±2.42mm in females and from the right side were 42.93±2.14 mm in males and 41.76±2.61 mm in females. The GPF found at medial to the maxillary third molar were 94-95 % in males and 84 % in females. These findings suggest that the medial position to the third molar teeth be used as a landmark for a palatine nerve block in Thais. These findings will help dentists to perform local anesthetic procedures, especially the nasopalatine and greater palatine nerve blocks, more effectively.

KEY WORDS: Greater palatine foramen;Incisive foramen;Lesser palatine foramen; Maxillary nerve block.