Relationship between Position of the Impacted Maxillary Canine and Its Follicular Width: Descriptive Features Using CBCT

This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between the position of impacted canine and associated follicular width.

This cross-sectional descriptive study, included CBCT archival images (n=70) in a maxillofacial imaging center in Sari, Iran. The images were studied by Planmeca Romexis Viewer ver. 3.8.2. Variables were determined and any relationship was investigated. Data analysis was carried out in SPSS V22.

Findings showed that 61.43% of the canines were in palatal position, 28.57% were in central position of the alveolar process and 10% were in buccal position. Also, the frequencies of vertical position of the canine cusp tip impacted in coronal 1/3, apical 2/3, and cervical region of the lateral incisor root were 50.86%, 40%, and 7.14%, respectively, and there were mild and severe root resorption in 28.57% and 2.86% of the cases, respectively.

Canine impaction often occurs in the palatal position relative to the bone crest and the risk of its occurrence increases with increase in the distance of the canine from the midline and increase in the size of the follicle. This phenomenon, which is reported more in women, can eventually lead to root resorption of the lateral incisor tooth.