Cone-beam computed tomographic evaluation to estimate the prevalence of palatogingival groove in the maxillary anterior teeth and its radiographic characteristics: An institutional retrospective study.

AIM: The purpose of the study was to radiographically evaluate the prevalence of palatogingival groove (PG) in the East Indian population in the maxillary anterior teeth in different genders, its unilateral/bilateral presentation, classified based on its radiographic characteristics, to determine the prevalence of different types, which could help in future treatment planning.

STUDY DESIGN: The design of the study was a retrospective study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Analysis of 429 maxillary anterior teeth (144 central incisors, 145 lateral incisors, and 139 canines) in 72 cone-beam computed tomography scans was done (31 males and 41 females, mean age 27.3 ± 7.63). Demographic details of patients and characteristics of PG, i.e. location, extension, depth, and type, were recorded. The presence of alveolar bone loss and periapical pathology was noted.

RESULTS: An overall prevalence of PG was found to be 2.33% ( n = 10), with PG being detected in 2 (1.388%) central incisors, 8 (5.51%) lateral incisors, and 0 (0%) canines. Eight of the patients had a unilateral presence, while one patient reported with bilateral presence, implying a significantly higher predilection of unilateral occurrence ( P = 0.02). The prevalence was found to be higher in females ( n = 8). The teeth were categorized as either having Type I (6 teeth), Type II (3 teeth), or Type III (1 teeth). Three of the 10 PGs were present in the mesial, six in the mid-palatal, and one in the distal portion of the palatal surface.

CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of PG in the maxillary incisors in this cohort is 2.33%. The maxillary lateral incisors are the most affected teeth. Unilateral presentation is more common.