Morphological and morphometric characteristics of labial-cervical-vertical groove in upper central incisor

Resumo

The labial-cervical-vertical groove (LCVG) is a developmental dental anomaly that may be present in the maxillary central incisors (UCI) which can affect periodontal health, facilitate the occurrence cervical decay, and compromise the aesthetics of the gingival contour. A LCVG can present different magnitudes and, when severe, it can impact the prognosis of the affected tooth. Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence, extent, and depth of labial-cervical-vertical groove (LCVG) in maxillary central incisors (UCI) from the Human Tooth Bank of Rio de Janeiro State University Dental School, aiming to provide a better understanding of this anomaly and thus to contribute to an accurate differential diagnosis and appropriate dental planning. Material and methods: Ninety-seven dental elements, belonging to the Human Tooth Bank of Rio de Janeiro State University Dental School, were inspected, for presence of LCVG. For analysis of this morphological alteration, the following measurements were registered in millimeters: the total length (measured from the coronal to the apical limits of the defect); its extension in the crown (measured from the defect’s coronal limit to the cementum enamel junction (CEJ)); its extension in the root (measured from the defect’s apical limit to the CEJ) and depth (measurement of the groove’s invagination toward the root canal) of LCVG in each tooth. Results: The prevalence of LCVG in our sample was 7.21%. The average measures observed for the LCVG were: 6.43 (± 1.81) mm of total of length, 2.86 (± 1.68) mm of extension in the root; 3.57 (± 0.98) mm of extension in the crown; and <1 to 1mm of depth. Conclusion: These findings contribute with knowledge on of the detail, of extent and depth of LCVG in UCI, providing the clinician with information that can favor diagnosis and maintenance of teeth with this anomaly.