CONE BEAM TOMOGRAPHY AND PANORAMIC RADIOGRAPHY IN LOCALIZATION OF IMPACTED MAXILLARY CANINE AND DETECTION OF ROOT RESORPTION.

Introduction The aim of this study was to evaluate cases of impacted maxillary canines (IMC) using cone beam tomography (CBCT) and panoramic images in an attempt to assess if panoramic radiographs can provide information compatible with CBCT results regarding canine position and root resorption. Methodology Fifty-six impacted maxillary canines from 48 patients were radiographically evaluated. The positions of the canine teeth were classified by Sector localization on panoramic radiographs and the same teeth were also analyzed by KPG on CBCT. Root resorptions in maxillary lateral incisors were also evaluated on CBCT. The relationships between panoramic and CBCT findings were compared by Chi-square test and Fischer's exact test. Results Statistically significant correlations were found between panoramic Sectors and KPG indexes (p<0.001). KPG index values of 1, 3 and 4 corresponded to the panoramic Sectors 1, 4 and 5, respectively; but KPG index 2 matched the panoramic Sectors 3 and more often 2. Mid-alveolar impaction generally coincided with score 1 for both KPG index and panoramic Sector. In palatally IMC, this score value was generally 2 or 3 for the KPG index and 4 for the panoramic Sector (p≤0.001). Root resorptions in maxillary lateral incisors showed significant differences according to Sector localization and KPG index (p<0.05), namely they coincided with 2 and 3 in Sector evaluation and 2, 3 and 4 in KPG index. Conclusions Sector location on OPG is found to be related to KPG index on CBCT, and it can help evaluate mainly certain positions of impacted canines; thus, unnecessary CBCT scans are not requested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]