Epidemiological and imaging characteristics of impacted maxillary incisors and effect on root development

Abstract Despite extensive research on maxillary impacted canines, studies specifically investigating maxillary impacted incisors remain limited. This retrospective study aimed to determine the prevalence of impacted teeth among adolescent orthodontic patients, analyze the imaging characteristics of...

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Main Authors: Yucong Zhou, Mengning Bi, Huiquan Yang, Xiaoya He, Xuanyu Wang, Zhihua Chen, Fang Ji
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96920-9
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author Yucong Zhou
Mengning Bi
Huiquan Yang
Xiaoya He
Xuanyu Wang
Zhihua Chen
Fang Ji
author_facet Yucong Zhou
Mengning Bi
Huiquan Yang
Xiaoya He
Xuanyu Wang
Zhihua Chen
Fang Ji
author_sort Yucong Zhou
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Despite extensive research on maxillary impacted canines, studies specifically investigating maxillary impacted incisors remain limited. This retrospective study aimed to determine the prevalence of impacted teeth among adolescent orthodontic patients, analyze the imaging characteristics of maxillary impacted incisors, and evaluate factors influencing root development. From a cohort of 2163 underage patients who attended the children malocclusion special clinic between August 2022 and July 2024, individuals with impacted teeth were identified and their clinical data were collected. Subsequently, detailed analyses were conducted on impacted maxillary incisors using high-quality Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). There were 157 patients with 205 impacted teeth observed, presenting a prevalence rate of 7.26%. Maxillary canines were the most popular impacted teeth (39.51%), followed by maxillary incisors (30.24%). The tooth dilaceration demonstrated a significant relationship with the three-dimensional (3D) locations of tooth. Impacted teeth situated in low impacted depth (P < 0.05) and those with buccal-lingual (P < 0.05) or vertical (P < 0.01) orientations showed reduced susceptibility to root dilaceration. A positive correlation was observed between the Upper Incisor to Palatal Plane Angle (UI-PP) and both the probability (P < 0.05) and earlier occurrence (P < 0.01) of root dilaceration. The root length of impacted tooth was positively correlated with age (P < 0.05). Besides, the average root length of the impacted central incisors was 1.84 mm shorter than the contralateral. The prevalence of impacted teeth in our orthodontic specialist clinics was 7.26%, and 69.76% of impacted teeth were maxillary anteriors. The development of tooth roots was mainly influenced by age and 3D location. These findings enhance clinicians’ understanding of impacted maxillary incisor characteristics and factors affecting the root development. The UI-PP proves to be an effective 3D location evaluation indicator. Early intervention is recommended for impacted teeth lacking sufficient space for root development, which could facilitate root development and minimize the risk of root dilaceration.
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spelling doaj-art-aa3ae033684d4f048a4f9a154e8588002025-08-20T02:17:53ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115111110.1038/s41598-025-96920-9Epidemiological and imaging characteristics of impacted maxillary incisors and effect on root developmentYucong Zhou0Mengning Bi1Huiquan Yang2Xiaoya He3Xuanyu Wang4Zhihua Chen5Fang Ji6Department of Orthodontics, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of MedicineDepartment of Orthodontics, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of MedicineDepartment of Orthodontics, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of MedicineDepartment of Orthodontics, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of MedicineDepartment of Orthodontics, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of MedicineDepartment of Orthodontics, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of MedicineDepartment of Orthodontics, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of MedicineAbstract Despite extensive research on maxillary impacted canines, studies specifically investigating maxillary impacted incisors remain limited. This retrospective study aimed to determine the prevalence of impacted teeth among adolescent orthodontic patients, analyze the imaging characteristics of maxillary impacted incisors, and evaluate factors influencing root development. From a cohort of 2163 underage patients who attended the children malocclusion special clinic between August 2022 and July 2024, individuals with impacted teeth were identified and their clinical data were collected. Subsequently, detailed analyses were conducted on impacted maxillary incisors using high-quality Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). There were 157 patients with 205 impacted teeth observed, presenting a prevalence rate of 7.26%. Maxillary canines were the most popular impacted teeth (39.51%), followed by maxillary incisors (30.24%). The tooth dilaceration demonstrated a significant relationship with the three-dimensional (3D) locations of tooth. Impacted teeth situated in low impacted depth (P < 0.05) and those with buccal-lingual (P < 0.05) or vertical (P < 0.01) orientations showed reduced susceptibility to root dilaceration. A positive correlation was observed between the Upper Incisor to Palatal Plane Angle (UI-PP) and both the probability (P < 0.05) and earlier occurrence (P < 0.01) of root dilaceration. The root length of impacted tooth was positively correlated with age (P < 0.05). Besides, the average root length of the impacted central incisors was 1.84 mm shorter than the contralateral. The prevalence of impacted teeth in our orthodontic specialist clinics was 7.26%, and 69.76% of impacted teeth were maxillary anteriors. The development of tooth roots was mainly influenced by age and 3D location. These findings enhance clinicians’ understanding of impacted maxillary incisor characteristics and factors affecting the root development. The UI-PP proves to be an effective 3D location evaluation indicator. Early intervention is recommended for impacted teeth lacking sufficient space for root development, which could facilitate root development and minimize the risk of root dilaceration.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96920-9Impacted toothMaxillary incisorsDilacerationManagementOrthodonticsImpacted tooth morphology
spellingShingle Yucong Zhou
Mengning Bi
Huiquan Yang
Xiaoya He
Xuanyu Wang
Zhihua Chen
Fang Ji
Epidemiological and imaging characteristics of impacted maxillary incisors and effect on root development
Scientific Reports
Impacted tooth
Maxillary incisors
Dilaceration
Management
Orthodontics
Impacted tooth morphology
title Epidemiological and imaging characteristics of impacted maxillary incisors and effect on root development
title_full Epidemiological and imaging characteristics of impacted maxillary incisors and effect on root development
title_fullStr Epidemiological and imaging characteristics of impacted maxillary incisors and effect on root development
title_full_unstemmed Epidemiological and imaging characteristics of impacted maxillary incisors and effect on root development
title_short Epidemiological and imaging characteristics of impacted maxillary incisors and effect on root development
title_sort epidemiological and imaging characteristics of impacted maxillary incisors and effect on root development
topic Impacted tooth
Maxillary incisors
Dilaceration
Management
Orthodontics
Impacted tooth morphology
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96920-9
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AT xiaoyahe epidemiologicalandimagingcharacteristicsofimpactedmaxillaryincisorsandeffectonrootdevelopment
AT xuanyuwang epidemiologicalandimagingcharacteristicsofimpactedmaxillaryincisorsandeffectonrootdevelopment
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