Assessment of periodontal status following the alignment of impacted permanent maxillary canine teeth.

PURPOSE The aim of the study was to assess the effect of orthodontic movement of the impacted canines after surgical exposure and alignment on the periodontal status of the transpositioned and adjacent teeth as well as to compare certain parameters with those of spontaneously erupted teeth. MATERIAL AND METHODS Twenty-four patients (mean age 18.4 +/- 3.66) with unilaterally impacted 24 canines were enrolled in the study. The following parameters were assessed: pocket depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), platelet index (PI) of Silness and Löe, and modified sulcus bleeding index (SBI). Optic density of the alveolar bone along the root surface of the aligned canine was analysed based on digital radiological images made with the right angle technique. Control group consisted of spontaneously erupted teeth. RESULTS In comparison to the control group, in the orthodonticaly treated group PD was found to increase on the mesial buccal and palatal surfaces of the first premolar (p < 0.003, p < 0.04), on the treated side; on the distal buccal (p < 0.01), mesial buccal (p < 0.0005), mesial palatal (p < 0.02) and distal palatal surfaces of the canine (p < 0.02); and on the distal buccal (p < 0.04) and distal palatal surfaces of the lateral incisor (p < 0.048). CAL was statistically significant on the mesio-buccal and mesio-palatal surfaces of the aligned canine (p < 0.02). PI was statistically insignificant, while SBI values at the aligned tooth were statistically significant (p < 0.0004). Positive correlation was found between treatment duration and distance to the occlusal plane (d) expressed by the correlation coefficient r = 0.49 (p < 0.02). No relationship was observed between bone density within the canine alignment zone and the control, and there was no link between the method of treatment and periodontal status, either. CONCLUSIONS The alignment of the impacted permanent maxillary canines poses a risk of periodontal deterioration. Patients subjected to surgical-orthodontic treatment require periodic periodontal follow-ups.