Transverse Analysis of Cone-Beam Computed Tomography at The Canine Level

Objectives: To use Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) imaging to determine the range of positions and relationships between the maxillary and mandibular canines and the related skeleton, and to evaluate whether dental and skeletal transverse discrepancies identified in the molar area also exist in the canine area.
Methods: CBCT scans of 148 patients (mean age 13.9 ± 1.3 years) with and without crossbite were analyzed to assess the width of the jaws and the inclination of the canines and molars relative to the occlusal plane. The dental and skeletal measurements were compared between the non-crossbite and the crossbite groups.
Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the non-crossbite group and the crossbite group in canine transverse angulations and maxillary and mandibular width. We found positive correlations between mandibular lingual width and both maxillary and mandibular canine axial angles (right maxillary canines r = 0.2 p = 0.02, left maxillary canines r = 0.3 p <0.001, right mandibular canines r = 0.5 p <0.001, left mandibular canines r = 0.3 p <0.001) that was not observed between maxillary palatal width and the canine axial angles. We found a positive correlation between maxillary canine and molar angulations as well as palatal and lingual widths, but not between mandibular canine and molar angulations.
Conclusions: Dental compensations and transverse skeletal discrepancies in the molar area are not carried forward to the canine area. Our findings suggest that crossbites are more confined to the molar area and less expressed at the canine level.