3D CT based rating of unilateral impacted canines

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to develop a reference system for multislice computed tomography (MSCT) images to determine of the location of impacted teeth in metric terms.

Study design: The CT data of 17 patients with unilateral impacted maxillary canines were selected retrospectively from existing MSCT data sets. In a reference coordinate system, defined by anterior nasal spine (ANS), posterior nasal spine (PNS), and A-point, the axis length and the inclination of the canines were determined and impacted and non-impacted canines were compared.

Results: There were significant differences between the impacted and non-impacted canines (p ≤ 0.0003) for all inclinations and the lengths in the x- and z-axes. The measurement of the inclination and sections of the impacted and non-impacted canine tooth axes showed sufficient repeatability and reproducibility.

Conclusion: The coordinate system proved to be suitable for the exact metric localization of impacted teeth.