European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Objectives: To determine any possible association between sella turcica bridging and canine impaction.
Subjects and methods: Orthodontic records consisting of standard-quality lateral cephalograms and dental panoramic radiographs were selected. Thirty patients with impacted canines (19 females,11 females; mean age, 16.0 ± 22.3 years) and 30 controls with erupted canines (15 males, 15 females; mean age, 15.1 ± 24.1 years) were included in the study. Sella dimensions between the patients and the controls were compared by using Independent sample t test whereas the relation of sella bridging with impacted canines was analyzed using the chi-square test.
Results: In the results, significant statistical difference was found to be present among male subjects and female subjects in relation to mean sagittal interclinoid distance (p<0.05). On comparison of degree of calcification (Leonardi classification) in cases and control, occurrence of type I sella bridging was found to be 3 (10%) and 19 (86.4 %) in subjects (n=30) and control (n=30) respectively, type II sella bridging was observed in 21 (70%) subjects and 11 (34.4%) control respectively, type III sella bridging was observed in 6 (20%) subjects. Degree of calcification in cases with stratification in regards to gender 
was studied using Leonardi ordinal scale classification. Occurrence of type I sella bridging was found to be 3 (27.3%) and 0 (0%) among male subjects and female subjects, type II sella bridging was seen in 6 (54.5 %) male cases and 15 (78.9 %) female cases and type III sella bridging was seen in 2 (18.2 %) male cases and 4 (21.1%) female cases respectively.
Conclusions: The frequency of sella turcica bridging was increased in patients with canine impactions whereas sella turcica length, depth and diameter were reduced in patients with canine impactions. Sella length was increased in males than females in the impacted canines group. The chances of having partial or complete bridging in subjects with impacted canines were approximately 4 times greater than those with erupted canines.