Use of Panoramic Radiograph as a Single Radiographic Technique to Localize Impacted Maxillary Canine

Impaction is defined as the failure of a tooth to erupt in its appropriate site in the dental arch within its normal period of growth (Preda et al., 1997). The frequency of individual based permanent tooth eruption disturbances is 20% the overwhelming majority of impacted teeth involve third molars, followed by maxillary canines and the mandibular second premolars (Grover and Lorton, 1985). Maxillary canines are the most frequently impacted teeth after the third molars with the prevalence ranging from 0.92% [DACHI AND HOWELL 1961 (Dachi and Howell, 1961)] to 2.56% depending on the population examined (Bass, 1967). They are twice as common in females [1.17%] when compared to males [0.51% (Bishara, 1992)], the impacted canine is mostly found palatal to the lateral incisor and labial only in about 15%of cases (Richardson and Russell, 2000). The panoramic radiograph is widely used in the general practice and is the first choice radiograph for the orthodontic patients as stated by south all and gravely 1987 (Southall and Gravely, 1987). Localization with panoramic radiograph is a relatively new technique.