Three-dimensional dentoalveolar characteristics of a labially impacted dilacerated maxillary central incisor using cone-beam computed tomography

TL;DR

This study used 3D imaging to compare dentoalveolar features between impacted and non-impacted sides in patients with a labially impacted maxillary central incisor.

Contribution

The study provides novel 3D analysis of dentoalveolar characteristics in impacted maxillary central incisors using cone-beam computed tomography.

Findings

Anterior alveolar bone height and labial bone thickness were significantly reduced on the impacted side.

Palatal alveolar bone thickness and density increased in impacted central incisors.

Lateral incisor inclination and arch perimeter were altered on the impacted side.

Abstract

This study aimed to three-dimensionally assess the dentoalveolar characteristics of patients with an impacted dilacerated maxillary central incisor compared to the unaffected side. This cross-sectional study used 35 cone-beam computed tomography scans. Dentoalveolar variables included anterior alveolar ridge height of incisors, alveolar bone thickness, and density, lateral incisors inclination relative to the mid-sagittal plane (MSP), palatal plane (PP), and Frankfort horizontal plane (FHP) with corresponding distances, maxillary arch perimeter, and canine median raphe width. Anterior alveolar bone height was significantly reduced on the impacted side. Additionally, compared with the non-impacted side, there was a significant reduction in the labial alveolar bone thickness of impacted central and ipsilateral lateral incisors. Conversely, there was a considerable increase in the palatal alveolar bone thickness of the impacted central incisor. The labial and palatal alveolar bone density of the impacted central incisors significantly increased compared to that of the non-impacted side. The lateral incisor inclination relative to the PP and FHP and the corresponding distances were reduced considerably on the impacted side, except for lateral incisors inclination to MSP, where it showed a statistically significant greater inclination. The anterior segment of the arch perimeter and the canine median raphe width were also significantly reduced on the impacted side. Significant differences in most dentoalveolar dimensions were observed between the impacted and non-impacted sides in labially impacted maxillary central incisor cases. This study highlights significant dentoalveolar changes in patients with impacted dilacerated maxillary central incisors, underscoring the need for tailored orthodontic treatment.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-025-10043-9.

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