Palatally Impacted Canines – Factors Affecting Treatment Duration

A relationship between the duration of orthodontic treatment and the exact position of palatally impacted canines before treatment was studied in panoramic radiographs (OPG). Material and Method: Sixty-seven palatally impacted canines were measured in 54 OPGs prior to treatment. The measured parameters were: vertical distance of the canine crown tip to the occlusal plane, inclination of palatally impacted canines to the vertical reference line and horizontal zones. The treatment time was measured from the open eruption technique of the canine till alignment of the canine. Conclusions: A middle correlation was found between the inclination of impacted maxillary permanent canine to the vertical reference line in OPG and the treatment duration. The greater the inclination, the longer the treatment. The relationship between the distance of the canine cusp from the occlusal plane in OPG and the treatment duration was not proved. Horizontal position of the canine in OPG is a factor that significantly affected the treatment duration.