This study aimed to reveal the correlation between the radiolucency area around the crown of impacted maxillary canines and dentigerous cysts using cone beam CT (CBCT). CBCT data were obtained from patients with impacted maxillary canines. Three points of five areas (tooth cusp area and buccal, lingual, mesial and distal areas of the crown) were randomly selected, and the distance between the point and the surrounding hard tissue was measured respectively. The mean values were recorded as the radiolucency area. These results were compared with the occurrence of dentigerous cysts during surgery. 58 patients with 76 impacted maxillary canines were included. 14 of the 76 impacted canines were accompanied by cysts (18.42%). With the increase in the thickness of the radiolucency area, the incidence of cysts was significantly increased (p < 0.05). No cysts were found in the compacted canines with 0–1 mm thickness of the radiolucency area. The highest incidence (71.43%) was observed in canines with 3–4 mm thickness of the radiolucency area. This study found that the thickness of the radiolucency area around the crown of the maxillary impacted canine was closely related to the occurrence of dentigerous cysts. CBCT can be used to estimate the occurrence possibility of dentigerous cyst and guide surgical operations.