Evaluation of frequency of the positions of impacted maxillary canines in cone beam computed tomography images in north of iran

The present study aimed to assess the frequency of the impacted maxillary canine positions and how it is related to adjacent structures through Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) images. The parameters evaluated in CBCT scans of 50 patients referred to the oral and maxillofacial radiology centers in north of Iran included: gender, bucco-palatal position and mesio-distal direction of the longitudinal axis of the canine, unilateral/bilateral occurrence, presence, severity and location of root resorption of adjacent incisors, root dilaceration, proximity of canine root to the maxillary sinus or the floor of the nasal cavity, and the distance between the canine crown and adjacent incisors root. Among 50 subjects 34 (68%) were female. The subjects' ages ranged from 14 to 52 years (mean age: 25.18 ± 9.44 years). Most of the impacted canines were observed to be positioned unilaterally 37 (74%), palatally 51 (81%), and mesially 63 (100%), and adjacent to the floor of the nasal cavity 41 (65.1%). The root resorption frequency in adjacent central and lateral incisors was five (7.9%) and 11 (20.4%), respectively. Root dilaceration was observed in three (4.8%) cases. In 75% of the cases, the distance between the canine crown and the adjacent central and lateral incisors root was less than 3.5 mm and 0.0 mm, respectively. Preoperative evaluation of impacted canines using CBCT provides an accurate and reliable assessment for proper diagnostic and therapeutic considerations.