Two Dimentional Localization of Impacted Maxillary Canines and Their Correlation

Comprehensive treatment planning is of paramount importance in leveling and aligning the impacted maxillary canines. In such cases, retrieval of all pertinent clinical information leading to proper diagnosis and prediction of treatment complexity weighs utmost importance. There are many factors including modalities of treatment, governing management of impacted canines. The aim of our study was to correlate canine angulation and its vertical position. The study was conducted in the orthodontic department at Armed Forces Institute of Dentistry(AFID) Rawalpindi. Patients presenting to orthodontic department from June 2001 to April 2008 were included in the study.. Orthopantomographs (OPGs) of 1956 consecutive patients were screened for impacted canines. OPGs were traced and angulations of canines to the mid sagital plane (á) and vertical distance from the occlusal plane (d-mm) were determined and a correlation was sought. 47(n) 2.4% patients were found to have 57 impacted canines. 21% patients had bilateral impactions. 33 patients were male and 24, female. The mean angulation was 29.54° and the mean distance d was 13.1mm. Insignificant correlation was found between these two variables. Though these factors are important in management strategies their influence is deemed independent of each other.