A clinical investigation of the evaluation criteria for impacted maxillary canine teeth

Aim: The purpose of this retrospective study was to investigate the relationship between the radiographic features of impacted maxillary canines and the traction time required for the treatment of impacted maxillary canines and the factors affecting treatment success. Material and Method: In the study, data from pretreatment panoramic radiographs and patient records of 121 consecutive patients with impacted maxillary canine were analysed. The measurements included the angle of the long axis of the impacted maxillary canine tooth with the midline, the horizontal position of the cusp tip with relative to the adjacent teeth, the distance of the cusp tip to the occlusal plane, the apex position and the vertical level of the cusp tip with relative to the adjacent lateral tooth. The intraclass correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the relationship between two different measurements. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors affecting treatment success. Linear regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between traction time and other parameters. ROC analysis was performed to determine the angle of the impacted maxillary canine tooth with the midline and the distance of the pulp apex of the impacted maxillary canine tooth from the occlusal plane and the cut-off value for treatment success. Significance level p<0.05 was taken. Results: The findings showed that palatally impacted canines were mostly located in sectors 3, 4 and 5. Buccally impacted maxillary canines were mostly located in sectors 1 and 2. The median angle with the midline is 41.6º for palatally impacted canines and 19.6º for buccally impacted canines. The median value of the distance of the cusp tip to the occlusal plane is 21.1 mm in palatally impacted canines and 17.3 mm in buccally impacted canines. The median values obtained differed significantly according to the buccopalatinal position of the impacted canine (p<0.001). (p<0.001) The effects of the parameters on the success of treatment were significant in logistic regression analysis of age, distance of the cusp tip from the occlusal plane and the angle of the long axis to the midline. (p=0.003) (p=0.002) The linear regression analysis for traction time was statistically significant (p<0.001).The traction time increased by 8.4 days as the distance of the cusp tip to the occlusal plane of the impacted canine increased 1 mm. (p<0,001). Conclusion: According to the results of this retrospective study, the angle with the midline, the distance of the cusp tip from the occlusal plane and the horizontal position of the cusp tip can be used to predict the buccopalatinal position of the impacted maxillary canine. The patient's age, the distance from the occlusal plane and the angle with the midline have an effect on the success of the treatment. The patient's age, distance from the occlusal plane of the cusp tip and the horizontal position of the cusp tip of the impacted canine affect the duration of traction. Keywords: Impacted maxillary canine, traction duration, success of treatment