## 4 Discussion  
Prevalence studies are essential for understanding the distribution and risk factors of rare dental anomalies like the palatoradicular groove, a variation in maxillary anterior teeth linked to periodontal and endodontic issues. These studies aid in early diagnosis and improved treatment strategies. The null hypothesis, namely, that no differences exist in the prevalence or distribution of palatoradicular grooves across maxillary anterior teeth, was rejected (\(p\) < 0.05). This study is one of the most comprehensive retrospective analyses of PRG prevalence and morphology using CBCT imaging, aiming to establish advanced statistical connections, such as localization/tooth type and unilateral/bilateral distribution. While [PERSON] et al. included a larger sample size and focused on similar parameters [23], our study's originality lies in its detailed statistical relationships, offering unique insights into the epidemiology and distribution patterns of PRGs. CBCT was chosen for this study due to its ability to provide detailed three-dimensional perspectives, crucial for evaluating PRG dimensions and spatial relationships [26; 27]. Axial views, highlighted by [PERSON] et al., were particularly effective in capturing subtle morphological features that are challenging to detect with conventional methods [18]. While micro-CT offers sub-millimeter resolution and exceptional detail for groove analysis, as demonstrated by [PERSON] et al. (2022) and [PERSON] et al. (2011), it is restricted to extracted teeth, making bilateral or population-level assessments impossible [17; 28]. Similarly, in vitro studies, such as those by [PERSON] and Everett & Kramer, often lack clinical relevance and are prone to selection bias due to reliance on extracted teeth without detailed inclusion criteria [3; 8]. On the other hand, traditional in vivo methods, relying on two-dimensional radiographs or clinical examinations (e.g., [29; 30]), fail to capture subtle morphological variations and contralateral grooves, leading to potential underreporting. CBCT bridges these gaps by providing sufficient resolution for anatomical detail while allowing comprehensive bilateral and in vivo assessments. This combination makes CBCT an ideal choice for our study, enabling large-scale analysis with both clinical applicability and diagnostic precision. The prevalence of palatoradicular grooves (PRGs) varies significantly across studies, primarily due to differences in study methodology, sample size, and the basis of prevalence calculation (tooth-based or patient-based). In our study, which analyzed 920 patients and 4012 maxillary anterior teeth using CBCT, a tooth-based prevalence of 10.42% and a patient-based prevalence of 23.59% were identified. This phenomenon aligns with findings from [PERSON] et al., (2023), who observed a tooth-based prevalence of 5.9% but a patient-based prevalence of 21.67%, demonstrating that patient-based calculations often yield significantly higher prevalence rates due to multi-tooth involvement in individual patients [19]. To account for the differences in PRG prevalence across studies, it is essential to examine the key factors that contribute to these variations, such as sample size, methodology, inclusion of specific tooth types, and regional or ethnic differences.