Cone-beam computed tomography evaluation of palatogingival grooves: a retrospective study with literature review

Abstract

Objectives

The purpose of the present study was to radiographically evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of palatogingival grooves (PGs) in maxillary anterior teeth on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) to better understand the nature of these defects.

Methods

The CBCT examinations of 993 teeth (330 canines, 315 lateral incisors, 348 central incisors) in 191 patients (87 males, 104 females; age range 16–80 years) were evaluated retrospectively. The diagnosis and radiographic condition of PGs were obtained by consensus among all observers. Verification of PGs was achieved from the patients' clinical records, which were stored in a database after their clinical evaluation. Differences in age, sex, occurrence, and location were evaluated by the Chi-square test. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05.

Results

Among the 993 teeth examined, nine PGs were observed in seven lateral incisors and two central incisors in eight patients (four males and four females). There was one bilateral case in the lateral incisors. The frequencies of PG occurrence and affected patients were 0.90 and 4.18%, respectively, without significance for sex and location (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

PGs were a relatively infrequent anomaly of teeth in this population, but when present, clinicians should understand the clinical features of these root variations.

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