Unlocking early solutions: 3D insights into managing impacted maxillary central incisors

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to investigate the three-dimensional morphological characteristics of impacted maxillary central incisors to guide early orthodontic intervention strategies. Methods Cone-beam CT images of 102 patients with unilateral impacted maxillary central incisors...

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Main Authors: Wei Chen, Wei Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-06-01
Series:European Journal of Medical Research
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-025-02584-6
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author Wei Chen
Wei Zhang
author_facet Wei Chen
Wei Zhang
author_sort Wei Chen
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The aim of this study was to investigate the three-dimensional morphological characteristics of impacted maxillary central incisors to guide early orthodontic intervention strategies. Methods Cone-beam CT images of 102 patients with unilateral impacted maxillary central incisors were obtained and reconstructed into three-dimensional models. These models were imported into Mimics software for volume and surface area measurements. Root development was compared with that of the contralateral erupted maxillary incisors. The data were analyzed using independent t-tests, Chi-square tests, and multifactorial rank analysis. Results Quantitative analysis revealed significant developmental deviations in impacted incisors. Both inverted and labial impaction groups demonstrated substantially smaller crown dimensions compared to controls, with volume reductions of 14.4% (419.81 ± 87.87 mm3vs 486.53 ± 88.28 mm3) and 7.2% (455.13 ± 75.12 mm3 vs 512.96 ± 77.99 mm3), respectively (p < 0.01). Surface area measurements paralleled this pattern, showing 11.8% (433.27 ± 64.22mm2 vs 490.19 ± 63.7 mm2) and 14.4% (439.05 ± 73.11 mm2 vs 486.98 ± 66.37 mm2) deficits in inverted and labial groups (both p < 0.01). Root development exhibited significant retardation with median maturation stages delayed by one developmental phase in impacted groups (stage 8 vs control's stage 9, p < 0.01). Morphological abnormalities showed impaction-type specificity: inverted impactions presented the highest root bending prevalence (72.1%), predominantly in central (58.1%) and apical regions (9.8%). Labial impactions demonstrated lower root bending prevalence (15.4%) with uniform spatial distribution, while palatal cases showed coronal predilection (30%) (all inter-group comparisons p < 0.01). Conclusion Inverted impacted central incisors have a higher incidence of dilacerated roots and poorer root development, indicating the need for early orthodontic intervention strategies of impacted central incisors. Trial registration The trial was retrospectively registered and the trial protocol was approved by the ethics committee of the Hefei Stomatological Hospital (Approval number: 2024LW011).
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spelling doaj-art-98cea150cbbb460a9101b9c17521cddf2025-08-20T02:10:30ZengBMCEuropean Journal of Medical Research2047-783X2025-06-013011710.1186/s40001-025-02584-6Unlocking early solutions: 3D insights into managing impacted maxillary central incisorsWei Chen0Wei Zhang1Department of Stomatology, Linping Campus, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of MedicineDepartment of Orthodontics, Hefei Stomatological HospitalAbstract Background The aim of this study was to investigate the three-dimensional morphological characteristics of impacted maxillary central incisors to guide early orthodontic intervention strategies. Methods Cone-beam CT images of 102 patients with unilateral impacted maxillary central incisors were obtained and reconstructed into three-dimensional models. These models were imported into Mimics software for volume and surface area measurements. Root development was compared with that of the contralateral erupted maxillary incisors. The data were analyzed using independent t-tests, Chi-square tests, and multifactorial rank analysis. Results Quantitative analysis revealed significant developmental deviations in impacted incisors. Both inverted and labial impaction groups demonstrated substantially smaller crown dimensions compared to controls, with volume reductions of 14.4% (419.81 ± 87.87 mm3vs 486.53 ± 88.28 mm3) and 7.2% (455.13 ± 75.12 mm3 vs 512.96 ± 77.99 mm3), respectively (p < 0.01). Surface area measurements paralleled this pattern, showing 11.8% (433.27 ± 64.22mm2 vs 490.19 ± 63.7 mm2) and 14.4% (439.05 ± 73.11 mm2 vs 486.98 ± 66.37 mm2) deficits in inverted and labial groups (both p < 0.01). Root development exhibited significant retardation with median maturation stages delayed by one developmental phase in impacted groups (stage 8 vs control's stage 9, p < 0.01). Morphological abnormalities showed impaction-type specificity: inverted impactions presented the highest root bending prevalence (72.1%), predominantly in central (58.1%) and apical regions (9.8%). Labial impactions demonstrated lower root bending prevalence (15.4%) with uniform spatial distribution, while palatal cases showed coronal predilection (30%) (all inter-group comparisons p < 0.01). Conclusion Inverted impacted central incisors have a higher incidence of dilacerated roots and poorer root development, indicating the need for early orthodontic intervention strategies of impacted central incisors. Trial registration The trial was retrospectively registered and the trial protocol was approved by the ethics committee of the Hefei Stomatological Hospital (Approval number: 2024LW011).https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-025-02584-6Maxillary central incisor impactionRoot development3D models
spellingShingle Wei Chen
Wei Zhang
Unlocking early solutions: 3D insights into managing impacted maxillary central incisors
European Journal of Medical Research
Maxillary central incisor impaction
Root development
3D models
title Unlocking early solutions: 3D insights into managing impacted maxillary central incisors
title_full Unlocking early solutions: 3D insights into managing impacted maxillary central incisors
title_fullStr Unlocking early solutions: 3D insights into managing impacted maxillary central incisors
title_full_unstemmed Unlocking early solutions: 3D insights into managing impacted maxillary central incisors
title_short Unlocking early solutions: 3D insights into managing impacted maxillary central incisors
title_sort unlocking early solutions 3d insights into managing impacted maxillary central incisors
topic Maxillary central incisor impaction
Root development
3D models
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-025-02584-6
work_keys_str_mv AT weichen unlockingearlysolutions3dinsightsintomanagingimpactedmaxillarycentralincisors
AT weizhang unlockingearlysolutions3dinsightsintomanagingimpactedmaxillarycentralincisors