Root Resorptions on Adjacent Teeth Associated with Impacted Maxillary Canines

Through the use of CBCT images, many unidentified features of impacted canines can be easily resolved. The potential collision of impacted maxillary canines and adjacent teeth could lead to root resorption (RR). The aim of this study is to examine the prevalence, location and severity of RR on adjacent teeth caused by impacted maxillary canines and the association between the adjacent teeth and the features of maxillary impacted canines on CBCT.

This study examined 89 subjects with 108 maxillary impacted canines, having had no previous orthodontic treatment (mean age: 18.3 ± 4.1 years). The following impacted-canine-related parameters were analyzed on the CBCT images: location; RR levels on adjacent teeth; occlusal line and midline distances of impacted canines; and the angulations of impacted canines to the midline, lateral incisor and occlusal line. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between RR and the measured parameters on CBCT.

In this study, we found that the majority of our patients with impacted maxillary canines were female (62.5%). Of the total 108 maxillary impacted canines, 60.2% resorbed the adjacent teeth of the affected quadrants. Lateral incisors were the most affected (34.3%). The mean age of subjects with RR was 16.7 ± 3.5 years. The frequency of RR was statistically significantly higher in female subjects (40.4%). Slight RR was the most frequent (30.5%) and the highest incidence noted at the apical third of the root (29.6%). Regarding the impacted maxillary canine angulation to the midline and adjacent tooth, higher values of angulation caused severe forms of RR (p < 0.05).

The sensitivity of CBCT allows for the accurate diagnosis of the location and the degree of RR, alongside the angulation and distance of impacted canines to adjacent teeth. The association between the linear and angular features of the impacted maxillary canines and RR was confirmed.