Relationship between palatally impacted canines and dimensions and morphology of sella turcica: A cone-beam computed...

This study aimed to analyze the association of unilateral and bilateral palatal canine impaction with the dimensions and morphology of sella turcica from 3-dimensional cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images.

CBCT images of patients with bilateral (BPI) (n = 12; 9 female 3 male; 20.75 ± 5.88 years) and unilateral (UPI) (n = 35; 22 female 13 male; 19.28 ± 5.57 years) palatally impacted canines were compared with a control group (n = 56; 34 female 22 male; 20.82 ± 4.88 years). Linear measurements regarding sella turcica were made, and its morphologic variations were categorized. Two group comparisons were made with the Student t test or Mann-Whitney U-test, whereas one-way analysis of variance or Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for multiple group comparisons. Categorical variables were compared using the chi-square or Fisher exact test as appropriate. The binary logistic regression analyses and correlations using Spearman or Pearson correlation analyses were used to determine associations between variables (P <0.05).

Sella diameter was significantly smaller in the BPI group compared to UPI and control groups. There was a significant association between sella diameter and BPI when compared with the control group (χ²[1] = 9.150; P = 0.008). There were no significant differences between groups in the distribution of sella turcica morphology.

Despite the similar genetic origin of the sella turcica region and teeth, the association of palatal canine impaction with dimensions and morphology of sella turcica was weak. Both local and genetic factors might contribute to the ectopic position of the canine.