Long-term results of Orthodontic and Periodontal treatment of Impacted Maxillary Canine

A common procedure for the palatally impacted canines specially the deeply impacted ones, is surgical exposure followed by orthodontic treatment. Due to this we intended to evaluate the long-term treatment effect of deeply impacted maxillary canine.

Sixty patients were treated from 1994 to 1999 with deeply impacted maxillary canine. The canine was exposed by closed surgical exposure, the palatal mucoperiosteal flap was reflected, and bone was removed and the flap is repositioned. A hole was made through the crowns and a 0.6mm soft stainless steel was passed through the hole and a loop was made. To apply force to align the tooth in the dental arch, fixed appliances were used with a transpalatal bar and/or headgear to control vertical anchorage. The patients were followed up for three years.

For 12 canines, a definite outcome was recorded which was predominantly successful. From the remaining canines, two were extracted due to ankylosis and two had ultimately an unfavorable alignment in the dental arch.

Closed surgical approach along with "making hole" technique is an appropriate method for the treatment of deeply impacted palatally maxillary canines MO 2006;1:176-83).