Assessment of the relationship between gubernacular canal presence and characteristics in supernumerary teeth and their development theories

• Grant number: 24/16134-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2025
• End date: December 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry - Dental Radiology
• Principal Investigator: Hugo Gaêta Araujo
• Grantee: Julia Beatriz Tonon
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia de Ribeirão Preto (FORP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The gubernacular canal plays a role in the eruption of teeth in formation. However, little is known about the relationship between this canal and dental anomalies such as supernumerary teeth. Recently, the tomographic finding of two or more teeth occupying the same dental follicle with the presence of a single gubernacular canal has been reported. The association of the presence and characteristics of the gubernacular canal with supernumerary teeth from different regions may provide evidence to explain the possible theories of the development of these teeth. The aim of this study is to evaluate the characteristics of the dental follicle and the gubernacular canal in supernumerary teeth from different regions of the dental arches, using CBCT scans of non-syndromic patients. To this end, CBCT scans will be selected that show intraosseous supernumerary teeth that are included or in the process of eruption. From these scans, the characteristics of the supernumerary teeth will be assessed (stage of formation, morphology, inclination, relationship of their follicular space with that of adjacent teeth and whether the gubernacular canal is present or absent) and, once the canal is present, its characteristics will also be assessed (conformation, location in the follicular space, location of the opening in the alveolar ridge, largest diameter, longest length and angulation in relation to the long axis of the tooth). The chi-square test and ANOVA will be used to compare the categorical and numerical variables between the supernumerary teeth from different regions with a significance level of 5%. This study may elucidate the characteristics of the gubernacular canal in supernumerary teeth from different regions of the dental arches, to evaluate the dental follicle corresponding to these teeth, and to relate these characteristics to the theories of supernumerary formation.