Quantitative Analysis of the Relationship between Maxillary Incisors and the Incisive Canal by Cone-Beam Computed Tomography in an Adult Population of Mangaluru

Background: Maxillary anterior teeth play a crucial role in aesthetics, phonetics, and mastication. For successful orthodontic treatment evaluating the morphology of the alveolar bone and incisive canal would help in avoiding root resorption, dehiscence, and fenestration. This study is aimed to research the configurational relationships among maxillary incisors, alveolar bone, and incisive canal through Cone Beam Computerated Tomography (CBCT). Methods: CBCT images of 35 orthodontic patients were evaluated for length of the canal (L); angles between the palatal plane and the maxillary alveolar border (01),the incisive canal (02), and maxillary incisor (03); distance from the right maxillary incisor to the incisive canal (D). All the measurements were performed on sagittal plane with the exception of (D) which was made on axial plane. Statistical analysis was performed on the above parameters using two sample test and Pearson’s correlation analysis. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between males and females for all the variables although there were large interindividual variation. There was a positive moderate correlation between 01 and 02 (0.480), 01 and 03 (0.487), 02 and 03 (0.345). The mean value for L and D were 10.38mm and 4.14mm respectively. Conclusion: There exists a large interindividual variability for incisive canal, proximity of incisors with that of incisive canal which could not be precisely predicted by the conventional cephalograms. The results of the study could be helpful clinically in planning orthodontic treatment for significant intrusion and retraction of maxillary incisors