The object of the study was to assess the degree and extent of root resorption of incisors adjacent to impacted maxillary canines on the basis of CT examination, as well as presenting the effect of patient's age and localisation of the impacted canines upon the resorption process.
Material and method: The study comprised 65 patients with suspected impaction of permanent maxillary canine. In all of the subjects pantomographic x-rays were performed. 44 patients aged 13-31 (average 17.1 +/- 4.5) were found to present with an overlap of the crown of impacted canine over the incisor roots, in which case a CT scan was performed. The patients under study were divided into three smaller groups according to age: group I (13-15 years of age) comprising 18 persons (40.9%) with 23 impacted canines (42.6%); group II (16-18 years of age) with 14 persons (31.8%) and 18 impacted canines (33.3%), and group III (19-31 years of age): 12 persons (27.3%) and 13 impacted canines (24.1%). The CT scans (including multiplanar and 3D reconstructions) were used to localise the impacted canines as buccal, palatal and horizontal. Also, the condition of the roots of lateral and/or central incisors was assessed. Moreover, the effect of impacted canine position and of the patient's age on occurrence and extent of incisor root resorption was analysed.
Results: Of the total of 54 impacted permanent maxillary canines, 41 (75.9%) were positioned palatally, 10 (18.5%) buccaly, and 3 (5.6%) horizontally. There were 31 cases (64.6%) of lateral incisor root resorption, of which in 18 (58.1%) resorption was deep, and in 13 (41.9%) it was light. The most damage (86.9) was found in the youngest group. There were also 8 cases (44.4%) of central incisor root resorption found primarily in the second age group. Statistically significant association between the position of the impacted
Conclusions: A CT scan allows assessment of degree and extent of the resorption of lateral incisor roots adjacent to impacted maxillary canines. Age of patients is a significant factor which has an effect on occurrence of damage to incisor roots. Also the position of impacted canines has an effect on the process of resorption of incisor roots. Computed tomography still remains the method of choice in assessment of root resorption in teeth adjacent to impacted teeth.