Morphological features of dentition associated with unilateral palatally impacted canine using cone beam computed tomograpahy: an etiological study

Introduction: the aim of this study is to determine the morphological features of dentition associated with unilateral palatally impacted maxillary canine and to predict of the possible local risk factors causing palatal impaction of the maxillary canine. Materials and Methods: 45 cone beam computer tomography were collected of patients diagnosed with unilateral palatally impacted canines 11 males and 34 females the mean age was 20.38 ± 4.37. The maxilla was divided into two for a split mouth design.The following parameters were obtained: The mesiodistal width of each tooth, the crown /root ratio of each tooth, and the volume of the impacted canine compared to the contralateral normally erupting canine, angulation and morphology of the root, Interpremolar and intermolar width of the upper arch and the arch perimeter.The measures were compared between the 2 sides. The data obtained in this study was subjected to Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, McNemar test and Paired t-test at P ≤0.05. Results: The results showed larger canine volume, narrower interpremolar width and increased crown root ratio of the laterals and canines on the impacted side. There was no statistically significant difference between two sides in the rest of the measurements. Conclusion: Narrower interpremolar width, increased canine volume, shorter root of lateral incisor and increased length of canine crown are contributing factors for impaction of the canine.