Aim of the study: to assess the relation between impacted canine angle, follicle thickness and proximity to lateral incisor using CBCT.
Patients and methods: The total impactions examined were two hundred impacted canines. Two observers with a clinical experience of 17 years viewed the images twice separated by two weeks interval. Measurement of the angle between the midline and long axis of impacted canine and follicle thickness was performed using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Regarding canine approximation to lateral incisor, a score was given for each impacted canine.
Results: There was a statistically significant inverse (negative) correlation between approximation to lateral incisor scores and canine inclination angle. There was a statistically significant inverse (negative) correlation between approximation to lateral incisor scores and follicle thickness. There was no statistically significant correlation between canine inclination angle and follicle thickness.
Conclusion: Practitioners should be aware of relevant diagnostic criteria to detect lateral incisor resorption. Timely detection and prompt preventive measures will lead to avoiding the severe complications due to impacted canines