EVALUATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MAXILLARY CENTRAL INCISORS AND THE INCISIVE CANAL: A CONE-BEAM COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY STUDY

Purpose: To analyze the anatomical association between maxillary central incisor (MCI) roots and the incisive canal (IC) by cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and to evaluate the influence of age and sex.
Materials and Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional investigation was conducted on 153 Yemeni subjects (80 female, 73 male; age range: 16–45 years). Linear and angular measurements between MCI and IC were recorded through standardized multiplanar reconstructions. Key parameters measured were inter-root distance, IC width, anterioposterior (AP) distance between the root of the maxillary incisor and the incisive canal, and palatal alveolar bone width (PABW).
Results: The IC was located below the incisor apex in 74.5% of the cases. The IC width at the apex (mean 3.97 mm) exceeded the inter-root distance (mean 3.83 mm). Males exhibited significantly larger AP distances and palatal IC widths compared to females. IC width increased with age, particularly at the apex. A strong correlation was observed between AP distance and PABW (r = 0.467), especially in females (r = 0.628).
Conclusion: The IC tended to be located below the root apex. The width of the incisive canal frequently exceeded the distance between the roots of the maxillary central incisors, particularly in females and in older  individuals, creating a high-risk anatomical region susceptible to iatrogenic complications with orthodontic retraction of the incisors. CBCT is crucial for personalized treatment planning in these instances.