Evaluation of the effect of upper central incisor impaction on the morphology of the adjacent lateral incisor and skeletal dimensions: A retrospective study using cone beam computed tomography

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effect of unilateral central incisor impaction on the crown and root morphology of the adjacent lateral incisor (LI) and the skeletal dimensions.Material and method: Cone beam computed tomography datasets from 60 subjects (32 males, 28 females, mean age: 11.92 ± 2.33 years) with unilateral impaction of the upper central incisor were selected and uploaded to the OnDemand software. The following were assessed on the impacted (IS) and normal (NS) sides: the crown length, root length, root canal width, apical foramen width, root crown angulation, dental age of the LI, LI to the midsagittal plane (MS), and palatal plane (PP), alveolar ridge heights at the central (HCI) and lateral (HLI) incisors, nasal cavity width, and the total buccolingual bone width of both incisors (WCI, WLI) at 2,6,10 mm from the alveolar crest.Results: The LI on the IS showed delayed root development, significantly shorter root length, larger apical foramen width, and smaller angle to the MS plane. The WCI and WLI demonstrated a significant increase on the IS at 2, 6, and 10 mm from the alveolar crest. The other measurements showed no significant difference between the two sides.Conclusion: The LI on the IS exhibited shorter root length, larger apical foramen width, and smaller angulation to the MS plane than on the normal side. Impaction of the upper central incisor showed no impairing effect on the alveolar ridge height, nasal cavity width, or the total buccolingual bone dimensions.