title: Association between sella turcica bridging and palatal canine impaction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The association of sella turcica bridging and various dental anomalies has been an area of interest for researchers. Based on the evidence of a common embryologic origin between sella turcica and the teeth, the objectives of this study were to measure the dimensions of sella turcica and to test whether an association exists between sella bridging and impacted canines.
  
  
  METHODS
  Orthodontic records comprising standard-quality lateral cephalograms and dental panoramic radiographs were selected. Thirty-one patients with palatally impacted canines (20 female, 11 male; mean age, 18.4 ± 8.9 years) and 70 controls with erupted canines (35 male, 35 female; mean age, 17.1 ± 7.5 years) were included in the study. Comparison of sella dimensions between the patients and the controls was carried out by independent sample t tests, whereas the association of sella bridging with impacted canines was analyzed using the chi-square test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frequencies of complete and partial calcification of sella in the patients were 8 (25.8%) and 17 (54.8%), respectively, whereas those in the controls were 0 and 36 (51.4%), respectively. The frequency of sella bridging was significantly higher in subjects with canine impaction than in the controls (P <0.001). The sagittal interclinoidal distance was found to be significantly reduced in the patients (P = 0.028). According to the statistical analysis, age and sex do not influence the dimensions and calcification of sella turcica.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sella bridging is frequently found in patients with impacted canines. Hence, sella bridging can complement other diagnostic parameters in confirming the status of canine impaction.
authors.affiliation: Resident, Department of Orthodontics, Section of Dentistry, Department of Surgery, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Batool
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Consultant orthodontist, assistant professor, and program coordinator of the orthodontics residency program, Section of Dentistry, Department of Surgery, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. Electronic address: attiya.shaikh@aku.edu.
authors.forename: Attiya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shaikh
authors.affiliation: Consultant orthodontist, associate professor, and program director of the orthodontics residency program, Section of Dentistry, Department of Surgery, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Mubassar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fida
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods; D003481:Cuspid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008022:Ligaments / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D010159:Palate / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D010900:Pituitary Diseases; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012658:Sella Turcica / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D013100:Sphenoid Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014095:Tooth, Impacted / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D055815:Young Adult