CORONAL INTEGRITY OF MAXILLARY CANINES AND ITS ROLE IN CANINE GUIDANCE RECONSTRUCTION: CLINICAL, RESTORATIVE AND BIOMECHANICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Kamel Earar, Rahela Chiș, Razvan Leata, Dorin Ioan Cocoș, Antoanela Magdalena Covaci

DOI : 10.62610/RJOR.2026.2.18.15

Abstract

Background: Canine guidance plays an important role in lateral mandibular function, but its stability can be affected by loss of canine maxillary coronal integrity, and our pilot clinical study evaluated the relationship between the maxillary structural condition of dogs, lateral guidance patterns, and restorative–biomechanical findings. Methods: Thirty adult patients were divided into three equal groups according to canine coronal integrity: intact/minimally altered canines, moderately compromised canines, and severely compromised or prosthetically reconstructed canines. A canine coronal integrity score was used to quantify structural and functional compromise. Clinical assessment included canine cusp morphology, palatal functional contour, restorative status, lateral excursive contacts, posterior interferences, and biomechanical risk indicators. Results: The canine coronal integrity score increased progressively from Group 1 to Group 3. Pure canine guidance was most frequent in patients with preserved canine morphology, whereas mixed guidance, group function, unstable lateral contacts, posterior interferences, restoration wear, and need for occlusal adjustment or guidance reconstruction increased in compromised groups. High biomechanical risk was most frequent in severely compromised/reconstructed canines. Conclusions: Our article suggests that maxillary canine coronal integrity is clinically associated with the quality of canine guidance and with restorative–biomechanical risk during lateral mandibular excursions.