Resorption of the lateral maxillary incisor: assessment by CT

Computed tomography of the maxillary alveolar arch was performed in three children with delayed eruption of one or both maxillary cuspids. Computed tomography demonstrated close contact between the ectopically localized and nonerupted canine and the lateral incisor. The lesion was unilateral in two patients and bilateral in one. In two patients resorption of the lateral incisor root was demonstrated. Moreover, CT permitted exact determination of the extent of the lesion by differentiating between superficial cementodentine resorption limited to the cementodentine (superficial resorption) and resorption extending into the pulpal canal (pulpal canal involvement).