CBCT analysis of impacted maxillary canines

Abstract

Background: This study designed to shade light on the important role of CBCT in accurate localization of theimpacted maxillary canines.Materials and method: Fifty two unilateral and bilateral impacted maxillary canines from 30 patients (24 females and6 males) were evaluated by a volumetric 3D images obtained from cone beam CT. All samples attended to thespecialist health center of dentistry in Al-Sadder City referred to CBCT by oral surgeons or orthodontists to detect theexact position of impacted upper canine in cases when there was no bulging buccally or palatally which aids todetect the exact position.Results: Mesio-palatal angulations had the highest rate (63.5%) followed by mesio-labial (19.2%), vertical (labial)(9.6%), disto-palatal (5.8%) and disto-labial (1.9%). The relation between impacted canine and the adjacent teethregarding to the attachment was significant only with lateral incisor. No cases of root resorption of the adjacentteeth were recorded. Bilateral impacted teeth were found in 22 patients which is highly significant (especially infemales), while unilateral impaction was found only in 8 patients especially in females. Impacted canine was moreprominent in female whether unilateral or bilateral.Conclusions: CBCT imaging of impacted canines can show the following: presence or absence of the canine,angulations of the long axis of the tooth, relative labial and palatal positions and proximity to adjacent teeth. In short,CBCT imaging is clearly advantageous in imaging and management of impacted canines