Craniofacial and atlas vertebra structures in patients with maxillary palatally displaced canines: A cone-beam computed tomography-based retrospective study.

Abstract

Introduction: This retrospective cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) study aimed to analyze the associations between maxillary palatally displaced canine (PDC) with the craniofacial and atlas vertebra structures.

Methods: A total of 94 patients (47 with PDC and 47 normal) were included. Then, their CBCT data were reconstructed and analyzed to measure the 3-dimensional angular positions of canines, the structures of sella turcica, atlas vertebra, and cranial base. Comparisons of continuous variables between 2 groups were performed using the independent samples t test or the Mann-Whitney U test, whereas 1-way analysis of variance or Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for comparisons among multiple groups. Categorical variables were compared using the chi-square test or Fisher exact test, as appropriate. Binary logistic regression analyses, along with Spearman or Pearson correlation analyses, were conducted to determine the associations between variables.

Results: No significant differences were observed in sella turcica structures or the occurrence of ponticulus posticus between the 2 groups (P >0.05). The anterior cranial base length was significantly smaller, and the cranial base angle was significantly larger in subjects with PDC (P <0.05). Moreover, a significant negative correlation was identified between anterior cranial base length and the occurrence of PDC (P <0.05). However, the angular positions of canines showed no significant correlation with any craniofacial variables.

Conclusions: On the basis of CBCT data, the structures of sella turcica and atlas vertebra did not differ between patients with PDC and those with normally erupted canines. However, patients with PDC exhibited a significantly shorter anterior cranial base length and a greater cranial base angle, suggesting a possible developmental link between cranial base morphology and maxillary canines. The explicit relationship and clinical significance of PDC with craniofacial structures require further investigation.