Root dilaceration in maxillary impacted canines and adjacent teeth: A retrospective analysis of the difference between buccal and palatal impaction

Introduction This research aimed to analyze the prevalence of root dilaceration in buccally impacted canines (BICs) and palatally impacted canines (PICs) with their adjacent teeth based on a retrospective cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) investigation. Methods Pretreatment CBCT images of 145 subjects with unilateral maxillary canine impaction and 145 age- and sex-matched subjects without impaction were used. Prevalence of dilaceration (subclassified to root curvature and apical hook based on severity) in canines and adjacent teeth was determined in CBCT records. The root length of maxillary impacted canines was measured for further morphologic evaluations. Results Impacted canines had a significantly higher prevalence of root dilaceration than the control group and compared with the erupted contralateral canines in the experimental group (P  Conclusions BICs and PICs have a higher tendency to present root dilaceration and shorter roots. Unlike BICs, adjacent teeth to PICs were more frequently observed to have root dilaceration.