Association of Sella Turcica bridge and ponticulus posticus with palatally impacted canine and hypodontia

Calcification of sella turcica is known as sella turcica bridge (STB), and calcification of first cervical vertebra of the spine is known as ponticulus posticus (PP). STB and PP might be able to predict the occurrence of palatally impacted canine and hypodontia. Sella turcica, neck and shoulder skeletal development, and dental epithelial cells share a common embryonic origin. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the association between STB and PP and the association of each of these with palatally impacted canine and hypodontia. This cross-sectional study was performed on the lateral cephalograms of 51 Deutero-Malayid patients, who were divided into three groups. The first group comprised 17 cephalograms of palatally impacted canine patients, the second group comprised 17 cephalograms of hypodontia patients, and the third group comprised 17 cephalograms of control patients. The type of STB and PP (no calcification, partial calcification, and complete calcification) was evaluated on each lateral cephalogram. The associations of STB with palatally impacted canine and hypodontia, PP with palatally impacted canine and hypodontia, and STB with PP were analyzed using an independent Chi-square test and Kendall correlation. The calcification of STB and PP in palatally impacted canine and hypodontia patients was increased compared with control patients. There was a significant association of STB and PP with palatally impacted canine and hypodontia, which showed an average positive correlation. However, there was no significant association between STB and PP. Calcification of STB and PP is frequently found in palatally impacted canine and hypodontia patients. The very early appearance of STB and PP during development should alert clinicians to possible impacted canine and hypodontia later on life.