Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 15, 2025
Author Spotlight: Advancing CBCT and Digital Dental Image Integration with AI-Assisted Digitization
Published on: February 23, 2024
Prevalence of Palatal Grooves on Maxillary Anterior Teeth Using Cone-beam Computed Tomography: A Systematic Review
Oscar Lozano González1, Marco Felipe Salas Orozco1, Nuria Patiño Marín1
1Faculty of Stomatology, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, México.
Background:
The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature and perform a single-arm meta-analysis to estimate the prevalence of palato-gingival grooves (PGs) in maxillary anterior teeth using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).
Methods:
This study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases, including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Scopus, to identify peer-reviewed studies and the gray literature reporting the prevalence of PGs in maxillary anterior teeth using CBCT. Studies were included if they provided data on the presence and characteristics of the palatal groove. The research protocol was previously registered in the International Prospective Register of Ongoing Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO; CRD42025633698). The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Prevalence Studies was used to assess the methodological quality of the included studies. A single-arm meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model to estimate the overall prevalence while accounting for variability across studies.
Results:
Eight studies met the inclusion criteria, evaluating 2212 subjects and 8900 maxillary anterior teeth. Sex distribution was 615 females (53.2%) and 541 males (46.8%), although not all studies reported sex data. The pooled prevalence of PGs was 1.5% (95% CI: 1.1%-2.1%), with substantial heterogeneity (I2 = 71.19). PGs were most frequently observed in maxillary lateral incisors (16.92%), while central incisors had a lower prevalence (1.22%) and canines were rarely affected (0.14%). Gu's Type I PGs was the most observed classification in the included studies. Most PG cases were unilateral (85.3%), with only 14.7% being bilateral. The methodological quality of the included studies was moderate to high, with a final Joanna Briggs Institute score of 84.38%.
Conclusion:
According to the analyzed studies, the estimated prevalence of PGs detected through CBCT was 1.5%. It primarily affects lateral incisors and occurs more frequently as a unilateral condition.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Tooth Anatomy
The Crown, Neck, and Root
The visible part of the tooth is referred to as the crown. It's covered by enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. The crown is uniquely shaped for each type of tooth, allowing for different functions such as cutting, tearing, or...
01:10Computed Tomography
The technique was invented in the 1970s and is based on the principle that as X-rays pass through the body, they are absorbed or reflected at different levels. In the technique, a patient lies on a motorized platform while a computerized axial tomography (CAT) scanner rotates...
01:27Imaging Studies III: Computed Tomography
01:26Assessment of the Mouth
Mouth Inspection
The inspection begins with visually examining the mouth for symmetry, color, and size.
01:11Oral Cavity
Teeth: The teeth are the hardest structures in our bodies. Humans have two sets of teeth throughout their lifetime: deciduous (baby) teeth and permanent teeth. Each tooth consists of several parts: the crown (visible part), the root (embedded in the jaw), enamel (hard outer...
01:14Imaging Studies I: CT and MRI
Description of the Procedures
Computed Tomography (CT) scan:
Computed Tomography (CT) scans use X-ray technology to generate detailed images of bones, organs, and tissues. During the scan, the patient lies on a moving table...