The prevalence of root resorption in maxillary incisors adjacent to impacted canines and the influence of canine orthodontic traction on this resorption after treatment

Background: Root resorption of maxillary incisors caused by impacted canines is fairly common. However, its detection depends on the imaging method used. This study assessed the prevalence of root resorption in maxillary incisors adjacent to impacted canines and investigate orthodontic canines' alignment on this resorption after treatment. Materials and methods: This retrospective observational analytical study examined ۳۱ impacted canines requiring traction treatment. The classification of canine impactions was based on the system proposed by Ericson and Kurol using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography. The study analyzed root resorption in the central and lateral incisors adjacent to the impacted canines, as observed in the final panoramic after treatment. Data were analyzed in SPSS version ۲۶, with binomial and Fisher's exact tests, (α=۰.۰۵). Results: ۲۹% of impacted canines were located buccally and ۷۱% palatally. The complexity of treatment of studied teeth was reported low in ۵۴.۸% and high in ۴۵.۲% of cases. No significant difference was seen in pre-treatment root resorption between buccally and palatally positioned canines (p = ۰.۱۴۵). Similarly, post-treatment root resorption rates in maxillary central and lateral incisors were comparable between low and high-complexity canine impaction groups, with no statistically significant difference. (p = ۰.۵۷۳ and p = ۰.۴۱۲ respectively). Overall, the prevalence of root resorption was consistent across groups and conditions. Conclusion: Impacted canines are associated with root resorption of adjacent teeth. Although central and lateral incisors show similar resorption prevalence, orthodontic traction increases resorption more in central than in lateral incisors.