Age‐Associated Radiological Characteristics of the Gubernaculum Tract in Unerupted Maxillary Canines: A Retrospective, Computed Tomography Study

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.