Forced-eruption time for palatally impacted canines treated with and without ostectomy-decortication technique

Objectives:To compare forced-eruption times for palatally impacted canines treated with and without the ostectomy-decortication technique and to assess the influence of palatally impacted canine pretreatment position and angle on forced-eruption time.Materials and Methods:The sample was composed of 118 patient-subjects with 151 palatally impacted canines treated with the ostectomy-decortication technique (n = 72) and without (n = 79). The orthopantomogram radiographs (OPGs) were analyzed for palatally impacted canine angle and horizontal and vertical position. Recovery time was measured from the start of forced eruption until the canine was within ±1 mm of final dental arch position.Results:The time of forced canine eruption with ostectomy-decortication technique was significantly shorter than without (6.6 vs 21.0 months). Pretreatment canine position significantly increased forced-eruption time in the ostectomy-decortication group but not in the control sample.Conclusions:Forced-eruption time of palatally impacted canines using the ostectomy-decortication technique was 3.2 times more rapid than without. Forced-eruption time increased significantly as a function of pretreatment palatally impacted canine position severity in the ostectomy-decortication group but not in the control.