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Introduction The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of lateral incisor root resorption associated with impacted maxillary canines and determine predisposing factors that may be used to predict its occurrence. Methods Cone beam computerised tomographic images of 133 patients presenting with 186 impacted canines were examined for lateral incisor root resorption. A control sample consisted of 30 lateral incisors on the side of the non-impacted canine. The studied canine-associated variables were gender, type of impaction, location of the canine both meso-distally and vertically and the long axis angulation to the midline. Axial images were primarily used to diagnose resorption. Results The estimated percentage of lateral root resorption in the sample was 17% (range 11.8– 23.9%) confirmed at a 95% confidence interval. A significant association was observed between the level of overlap of the canine across the lateral incisor, measured in sectors, and the probability of lateral incisor root resorption. The probability approximately doubled for each additional sector of canine overlap. No other significant association was noted related to all the other variables examined. Conclusions The incidence of lateral incisor root resorption associated with impacted maxillary canines was lower in the present study compared with many previous reports. However, resorption remains a common clinical finding. In order to screen for lateral incisor resorption, it is recommended that a cone beam image be prescribed when there is a mesial overlap of an impacted canine across the lateral incisor midline.