Maxillary dimensions and arch shape with palatally displaced canines

Area of Science:

• Orthodontics
• Craniofacial Morphology
• Dental Imaging

Background:

• Palatally displaced canines (PDC) are a common orthodontic anomaly.
• Understanding their impact on maxillary dimensions is crucial for treatment planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of palatally displaced canines on maxillary dimensions and arch shape.
• To compare craniofacial morphology between patients with PDC and controls.

Main Methods:

• Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging was used for 156 orthodontic patients (78 with PDC, 78 controls).
• Occlusal and skeletal landmarks were analyzed using Mimics™ software.
• Measurements included arch width, depth, and skeletal dimensions; Geometric Morphometrics (GM) and Discriminant Function Analysis (DFA) were applied.

Main Results:

• Unilateral PDC cases showed significantly increased first premolar, second premolar, and first molar widths.
• Increased first molar depths were observed in the unilateral PDC group.
• While arch form showed no significant difference, GM revealed significant group distinctions and strong covariance for second premolars.

Conclusions:

• Unilateral palatally displaced canines are associated with wider maxillary arch dimensions and increased molar depths.
• Geometric Morphometrics identified significant morphological differences between PDC patients and controls.
• Further research with larger sample sizes is needed to confirm statistical significance in stratified groups.