Radicular grooves of maxillary anterior teeth in a Turkish population: a cone-beam computed tomographic study

Abstract

Objective: There is limited data on the use of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scanning in examining radicular groove (RG). This study aims to investigate the presence of RG in maxillary anterior teeth in a Turkish Population using CBCT scanning and to correlate the findings with the tooth type, and patient's gender.

Design: A total of 1969 CBCT images of maxillary anterior teeth obtained from 342 patients were included in the study. Patients' age and gender, the tooth type (central/lateral incisor, canine), and the presence/absence, bilateral/unilateral diversity, and type of RG were recorded. The RG type was categorized using Gu's classification. Statistical analysis was carried out to correlate the findings with tooth type, and gender using the χ(2) test (p=0.05).

Results: RGs were detected in 4 (0.6%) central incisors, 15 (2.3%) lateral incisors, and 0 canines. The frequency of RGs in males was higher than in females. There were statistically significant differences among the different tooth types in terms of the presence of RGs (p<0.001). Statistical analysis also revealed a significant difference between the males and females in terms of the presence of RGs (p=0.003).

Conclusions: The prevalence of RGs was statistically higher in males than in females and in lateral incisors compared to central incisors. CBCT may be recommended as an effective diagnostic device to identify RGs.

Keywords: Anatomy; Cone-beam computed tomography; Maxillary central incisor; Maxillary lateral incisor; Radicular groove; Root variation.