Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between the incisive canal and maxillary median diastema, and to identify an imaging method capable of documenting the geometry and dimensions of the incisive canal. The sample consisted of 59 dry skulls, 26 of which had a maxillary median diastema ranging in size from 0.1 mm to 2.8 mm (mean 1.0 mm, SD = 0.7 mm). Each skull had all of the permanent maxillary teeth present from first molar to first molar and lacked any apparent non-orthodontic condition that could have caused the diastema. Diastema width and canal diameter were measured directly on each skull. A series of three plane radiographs were taken of each skull - a maxillary modified "lateral" ceph, a special maxillary occlusal, and a central incisor periapical. A total of 18 measurements and evaluations were made on each set of films to describe the incisive canal size, position, orientation, and its surrounding cortical bone.

Incisive canals ranged in size from 2.3 mm to 7.2 mm (mean 3.9 mm, SD = 0.9 mm). Analysis of the results failed to confirm a relationship between the size of a diastema and the size of the incisive canal for this sample. However, a weak correlation between size of diastema and the density of cortication around the canal was observed when cortication was evaluated subjectively from the maxillary occlusal radiograph (Spearman's correlation 0.49, p < 0.01). Additionally, in skulls with a diastema, the central incisor roots were found to be more convergent on average than in those skulls without a diastema (p = 0.03, mean with diastema -2.5°, SD = 5.2°, mean without diastema 0.1°, SD = 5.8°).

LLU Discipline

Orthodontics

Department

Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics

School

Graduate School

First Advisor

V. Leroy Leggitt

Second Advisor

Joseph M. Caruso

Third Advisor

Dennis E. Clark

Fourth Advisor

Max Crigger

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Degree Level

M.S.

Year Degree Awarded

1998

Date (Title Page)

9-1998

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Diagnostic Imaging; Radiography, Dental; Dental Pulp Cavity; Diastema.

Type

Thesis

Page Count

vi; 37

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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