Prevalence of impacted permanent upper canine and its treatment in 11-18-year-old orthodontic patients

Data of literature show very high prevalence of impacted upper permanent canine. The aim of the present study was to evaluate prevalence of retentioned or impacted upper permanent canines and to present their therapy. Data on 11-18-year-old children presented for treatment at the Department of Dentistry for Children and Orthodontics in Budapest over a period of 10 years (between 1990 and 2000) were analysed. OP X-ray films of 1858 children and adolescents--1102 female and 756 male--were examined and the data of anamnesis and the administered therapy were considered. Results revealed 101 cases of impacted cuspids, the male:female ratio was 46:55. Considering the totality of administered treatment methods, both surgical exposure and orthodontic treatment of the affected canines were needed in a high rate, i.e. 96.92% of the analysed cases. In 40.91% of the cases extraction of the correspondent upper first premolar was needed. Following the premolar extraction spontaneous occlusions of the impacted canine was established in 3.03%. Authors present the complex therapy of one case of palatally impacted upper permanent canine.