Evaluation of morphological and dimensional characteristics of the nasopalatine canal in patients with impacted teeth in the anterior maxilla: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: The nasopalatine canal (NPC) is a clinically and radiologically significant anatomical structure. This study aimed to comprehensively characterize the morphological, morphometric, and anatomical features of the NPC in individuals with impacted teeth in the anterior maxilla and to classify the spatial relationship between the impacted tooth and the NPC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 238 cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images were evaluated based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The NPC was evaluated separately in the axial, coronal, and sagittal planes in all CBCT images. In addition, age, sex, impacted tooth location and position, and its spatial relationship to the NPC (none, apical, middle, or crestal region) were recorded for all images. The independent-samples t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Pearson chi-square test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: An anatomical relationship between impacted teeth and the NPC was found in 50.4% of cases. Impacted teeth in a mesioangular position were more frequently associated with the NPC than those in other positions. An association was observed between axial NPC shape at all three levels and the relationship of the impacted tooth to the NPC. Differences were found in the external border shape and course of the NPC according to the presence or absence of impacted teeth associated with the NPC. The IF diameter was greater in individuals with impacted teeth associated with the NPC than in those without such an association. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated that the presence of impacted teeth in the anterior maxillary region may lead to alterations in the morphological and dimensional characteristics of the NPC.