A Comparative Evaluation of Bone Density Surrounding Buccally and Palatally Impacted Canines Utilizing Fractal Analysis: A Retrospective Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) Study
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Previous studies have identified environmental and genetic causes of impaction; however, none of these studies have considered bone density as a factor. The study aimed to determine the bone density surrounding buccally and palatally impacted canines and to determine whether bone density is a contributing factor to the higher occurrence of palatal impaction. METHODS: The study sample included 20 pretreatment cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans with either unilateral or bilateral impacted canines. The fractal dimension (FD) was determined using ImageJ software (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD), with a focus on the interproximal region between the first and second premolars, adjacent to the impacted canine. To assess significant differences between the groups, intergroup comparisons were performed using independent samples t-tests and unpaired t-tests. RESULTS: The mean FD of palatally impacted canines was 1.5563, which was greater than that of buccally impacted canines (1.3983). The overall changes in FD were significant (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our analysis of the CBCT images revealed that bone density is higher around canines that are impacted palatally compared to those impacted buccally. Therefore, bone density is one of the local etiologic factors associated with the higher prevalence of palatal impactions.
Source: Cureus
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.82761
Authors: Manish S Agrawal, Sharaniya S Nambiar, Jiwanasha Agrawal, Shraddha S Shetti, Sangamesh Fulari
Institution: Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University)
Language: English
Subfield: Oral Surgery
Field: Dentistry
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4409682035