The radiographic localization of impacted maxillary canines: a comparison of methods

This study compared two different radiographic techniques for localization of impacted maxillary canines: vertical parallax (from a panoramic and a maxillary anterior occlusal radiograph) and magnification (from a single panoramic radiograph). The radiographs and the information regarding the impacted canines were obtained retrospectively from records of patients treated in the Day Stay Unit of the Eastman Dental Hospital. The two different radiographic techniques were tested blind and compared for localization of the impacted canine by six examiners. The 'gold standard' used for the radiographic comparisons was the true position of the canine as recorded at operation. The results showed a wide variation between the six examiners in the prediction of the canine position with the two different techniques. Localization with vertical parallax was more successful overall than with magnification, although the difference failed to reach significance. Seventy-six per cent of the impacted canines could be successfully located with vertical parallax and 66 per cent with magnification. Further analysis showed that, while almost 90 per cent of the palatally impacted canines could be correctly detected with both techniques, less than half of the buccal canines could be detected with parallax and only one in 10 buccal canines could be detected with magnification. If a canine is suspected to be buccally placed from its appearance on a panoramic film and cannot be palpated, further views are justified.