FREQUENCY OF IMPACTED CANINES IN ORTHODONTIC PATIENTS PRESENTING TO ARMED FORCES INSTITUTE OF DENTISTRY

Impacted Canines in Orthodontic Patients

Abstract

Objective: The aim of our study was to observe the frequency of patients presenting with impacted canines in our subset of population. 
Study Design: This is cross-sectional observational study. 
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in the Orthodontic Department at Armed forces Institute of Dentistry Rawalpindi . 
Patients and Methods: Orthopantomographs (OPGs) of 1956 consecutive patients were observed for impacted canines. Thirty two patients were excluded for various reasons. Age and gender was recorded Orthopetomographs (OPGs) and intra-oral photographs were observed to detect the impaction of canines. 
Results: Out of 1924 orthodontic patients (64) 3.33% were found to have impacted canines. The mean age of the patients presenting with impactions was 18.3 years. The male to female ratio was 1:2. The 87.5 % of the impactions were unilateral. Single tooth impactions were the most common followed by two or three impactions in the same patient. The most frequently impacted tooth in 51.56% of the cases was the right maxillary cuspid. The least common was the right mandibular cuspid, 4.7%. 
Conclusion: A frequency higher than the previously quoted prevalence was found in our study. Racial and ethnic factors may have a role, further large scale studies are required to validate this assumption.