Morphological evaluation of incisive canal between dentate and maxillary central incisor loss subjects in a Vietnamese population using cone beam computed tomography: a retrospective cross-sectional study

Accurate assessment of the incisive canal (IC) is crucial for planning dental implant procedures in the aesthetic anterior maxilla, yet population-specific data on its morphology, particularly following maxillary central incisor loss (MCIL), remains limited. Objective This study aimed to evaluate and compare the three-dimensional morphology of the IC and the buccal alveolar bone plate (BABP) between dentate subjects and those with MCIL in a Vietnamese population using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Methods This retrospective cross-sectional study analyzed 138 CBCT scans, divided into a Dentate group ( n = 100) and an MCIL group ( n = 38). Morphological classification of the IC was performed on sagittal, coronal, and axial planes. Quantitative linear and areal measurements of the IC (length, diameters, area, angulation) and the adjacent BABP (width at crestal, middle, and nasal levels; height) were obtained. Inter-group and gender-based comparisons were conducted using independent t-tests and Chi-square tests, with age adjustment via analysis of variance (ANCOVA) for continuous variables. Results Gender-based analysis revealed significant sexual dimorphism, with males exhibiting larger IC diameters and greater BABP widths compared to females ( p < 0.05). No statistically significant differences were found in the morphological shape, division pattern, or any quantitative parameter (including sagittal length) of the IC between the Dentate and MCIL groups ( p > 0.05). In contrast, all width dimensions of the BABP were significantly reduced in the MCIL group, most notably at the crest (4.50 ± 1.50 mm vs. 7.36 ± 1.56 mm in Dentate, p < 0.00001). Conclusion The loss of maxillary central incisors is associated with significant horizontal resorption of the BABP but does not significantly alter the morphology or dimensions of the incisive canal.