title: Evaluation of a possible association between a history of dentoalveolar injury and the shape and size of the nasopalatine canal.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Maxillary incisors (MI) are often affected by dentoalveolar injury resulting in tooth devitalization and apical periodontitis. The aim of the present study was to analyze any association between a history of dentoalveolar injury and the shape and size of the nasopalatine canal (NC) using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were allocated to the trauma group if they had a history of dentoalveolar injury and a root filling in at least one MI and/or one missing MI. As controls, 100 matched-controlled (age and gender) patients were selected. NC dimensions including length, width at midway, and diameter of incisal and nasal foramen were measured in sagittal and axial CBCT planes. Furthermore, an evaluation of NC bulging signs, apical osteolysis of MI, and its fusion with NC was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the trauma group (n = 96), 31.3 % had at least one missing MI, and 95.8 % had a root filling in a MI. The antero-posterior dimension of the incisive foramen (p = 0.02) and of the NC at midway (p = 0.04) was significantly larger in the trauma group. Significantly more cases with a bulging sign were found in the trauma (n = 19) than in the control group (n = 3, p = 0.001). An apical osteolysis was identified in 5.1 % of MI, and 12/38 did show a fusion with the NC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Wider dimensions of the NC and a bulging sign may suggest a former dentoalveolar injury to the anterior maxilla. Periapical osteolysis of central MI over 5 mm in diameter tends to fuse with the NC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with a history of dentoalveolar injury and/or apical periodontitis, the NC should be evaluated on available CBCT images. Any inflammatory processes in the neighboring teeth should be recognized and eliminated as they may initiate bulging of the NC and/or the formation of a nasopalatine duct cyst (NPDC). NC with bulging signs should be monitored clinically and radiographically to diagnose a NPDC in an early stage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Surgery and Stomatology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 7, 3010, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Valerie G A
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Suter
authors.affiliation: OMFS IMPATH Research Group, Department of Imaging and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Reinhilde
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.affiliation: Radiologic Center, School of Dentistry, Pontifical Catholic University, Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcia R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Brücker
authors.affiliation: OMFS IMPATH Research Group, Department of Imaging and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Furher
authors.affiliation: OMFS IMPATH Research Group, Department of Imaging and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.|Department of Oral Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Surgery and Stomatology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 7, 3010, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: von Arx
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Surgery and Stomatology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 7, 3010, Bern, Switzerland. michael.bornstein@zmk.unibe.ch.|OMFS IMPATH Research Group, Department of Imaging and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. michael.bornstein@zmk.unibe.ch.
authors.forename: Michael M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Bornstein
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010014:Osteolysis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D018677:Tooth Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000601:surgery
keywords: Anterior maxilla; Cone beam computed tomography; Dentoalveolar injury; Incisive canal; Incisive foramen; Nasopalatine canal; Periapical lesion