Gubernaculum Dentis in a Transmigrating Canine: Case Report and Literature Review

The Gubernacular Canal…

“…1 The canal normally opens on the alveolar crest, lingual or palatal to the deciduous tooth. 2 The detection rate of gubernacular canals on imaging varies within the literature, and has been reported to range from 43.7% to 100%, with the detection rate being highest for normally erupting teeth, followed by impacted teeth, and the lowest detection rate being seen in teeth with delayed eruption. 1 While the process of tooth eruption is not completely understood, it has been shown that alteration to or absence of the gubernacular canal may indicate abnormal eruption pattern of the tooth.…”

“…3,4 Radiographically, the gubernacular canal can be seen on three-dimensional imaging, and has been described as a low-density, corticated tract which is continuous with the dental follicle of an unerupted tooth, however, it is not usually possible to discern on conventional two-dimensional imaging due to its small size and narrow diameter. 2,3,5 This explains why many clinicians may not be aware of its significance, unless very experienced in the interpretation of three-dimensional dentoalveolar imaging.…”