Age‐Associated Radiological Characteristics of the Gubernaculum Tract in Unerupted Maxillary Canines: A Retrospective, Computed Tomography Study
Kozue Iwawaki‐Otsuka, Masafumi Oda, Ikuko Nishida, Osamu Takahashi, Kazuya Haraguchi, Nao Wakasugi‐Sato, Shinobu Matsumoto‐Takeda, Shun Nishimura, Susumu Nishina, Yasuhiro MorimotoABSTRACT
Background
The gubernaculum tract (GT) is thought to play a key role in tooth eruption, but its age‐associated radiological characteristics in unerupted permanent teeth remain unclear.
Aim
To evaluate age‐associated radiological characteristics of the GT on computed tomography (CT) in unerupted maxillary canines in patients aged ≥ 9 years.
Design
This retrospective study analyzed 314 unerupted maxillary canines from 219 patients. GT status was classified as present, remnant, or non‐visualized. GT luminal diameters were measured in GT‐present teeth. Associations with age, sex, and unerupted canine depth were examined.
Results
GT remnants were observed in 42 teeth (13.4%). GTs were common at ages 9–11 years, whereas non‐visualization predominated at ≥ 12 years. The non‐visualized group was significantly older, while the remnant group showed greater unerupted canine depth. In threshold‐specific multivariable analyses accounting for within‐patient clustering, increasing age was associated with GT non‐visualization versus remnant/present (OR = 1.10, p = 0.039), and greater unerupted canine depth with non‐visualized/remnant versus present (OR = 1.11, p = 0.012). Shallower unerupted canine position was associated with larger GT luminal diameters.
Conclusion
The GT showed age‐associated radiological differences in unerupted maxillary canines. The remnant‐type GT may represent a distinct radiological appearance in patients aged ≥ 9 years.