Predictive Analysis of Maxillary Canine Impaction through Sella Turcica Bridging, Ponticulus Posticus Calcification, and Lateral Incisor Anomalies: A Retrospective Observational Study

Abstract

Maxillary canine impaction is an increasing dental anomaly and is often related to other dento-skeletal anomalies. The aim of this work is to support the clinician in evaluating the relationship between a displaced maxillary canine and clinical (the features of lateral incisors)/skeletal (ponticulus posticus and sella turcica bridging) anomalies through orthopanoramic radiographs, lateral cephalograms, and plaster casts to identify the parameters that best predict maxillary canine impaction. A retrospective observational study was carried out on the analysis of the medical records, radiographic findings (panoramic radiographs and lateral cephalograms), and plaster casts of 203 orthodontic patients divided into a case group, with at least one impacted maxillary canine, and a control group, without an impaction. A chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the data. A statistically significant association was found between the impaction of the maxillary canine and the female sex, the bridging of the sella turcica, the ponticulus posticus calcification, and the anomaly of the lateral incisor; a logistic regression revealed that these significant variables were found to be positive predictors of impacted maxillary canines, particularly in reference to the impaction in the palatal area. Finding one of these clinical and radiographic elements can represent a predictive sign of the possible impaction of the maxillary canine.

Relation Between Sella Turcica Bridging and Palatal Canine Impaction – A Review

“…It was found that, a statistically significant correlation between the maxillary canine impaction with female gender, sella turcica bridging, calcification of ponticulus posticus, and the lateral incisor anomaly [22]. These factors were observed to be the significant variables and positive predictors of maxillary impacted canines, mainly related to the impaction in the palatal region.…”

Prevalence of Ponticulus Posticus and Migraine in 220 Orthodontic Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…As NCCs are a multipotent embryonic cell population that contributes to the formation of the sella turcica, teeth and atlas, if a mutation occurred in this stage, two or more congenital anomalies could be present [ 36 ]. Some dentoskeletal anomalies in the midface and neck area, such as maxillary canine impaction (MCI), atlas posterior arch deficiency (APAD) and sella turcica bridging (SB), and lateral incisor anomalies and their possible correlation with PP were analyzed by some authors due to the same or similar genetic origin [ 27 , 37 , 38 ]. The sella turcica region is an important landmark during cephalometric analysis, so it is easy to detect by orthodontists [ 39 , 40 , 41 ].…”