Imaging characteristics of gubernaculum tracts in patients with cleidocranial dysplasia: a computed tomography study.

OBJECTIVES

To elucidate the imaging characteristics of the gubernaculum tract (GT) in patients with cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD) as visualized with computed tomography (CT).

STUDY DESIGN

This was a retrospective analysis of the presence and shape of GTs of unerupted permanent teeth and supernumerary teeth on CT in 9 patients with CCD.

RESULTS

The overall GT detection rate for unerupted permanent teeth was 83.5% (81/97), with no significant difference between permanent teeth without and with adjacent supernumerary teeth (P = .414). The overall GT detection rate for unerupted supernumerary teeth was 83.1% (49/59). Of the 156 total unerupted teeth analyzed, 83.3% (130/156) were judged to have GTs. No significant difference in detection rate of GTs was found between permanent and supernumerary teeth (P > 0.999). A composite morphology consisted of a single GT for a permanent unerupted tooth with 1 or 2 supernumerary teeth in which the dental follicles of the permanent and supernumerary teeth were confluent. In total, 44 groups consisted of 1 permanent and 1 or 2 supernumerary teeth; 79.5% (35/44) had GTs.

CONCLUSIONS

A specific composite structure of GTs and dental follicles may signify that 2 or 3 teeth are derived from a single dental lamina in patients with CCD. In such cases, tooth eruption may fail due to the presence of only 1 GT for multiple teeth.