Evaluation of surgical-orthodontic treatments on impacted mandibular canines

The aim of the study was to evaluate patients treated for impacted mandibular canines through a combined surgical and orthodontic approach.

The cases which were made button operations of impacted mandibular canines were selected from 5100 panoramic radiographs taken from patients who made use of our oral and maxillofacial surgery services between January 1998 to April 2006. All of these selected patients were assessed radiographically. Pertinent information such as sex, age at the time of surgery, site of the unerupted tooth, space availability and any other associated pathoses were also recorded. These patients were called again, and the condition of the mandibular canines was evaluated with panoramic radiographs. If the tooth erupted in the right position and it was functional and asymptomatic, we assumed the treatment to be successful clinically.

In the present study, from 5100 patients, 69 patients had impacted mandibular canines and only 21 patients ' teeth (a total of 23 teeth) were treated orthodontically. Sixteen impacted mandibular canine teeth of 14 patients erupted successfully. Two impacted canine were extracted, and only one canine tooth was transplanted to the normal position. Four patients ended the treatment because of failure of eruption.

If a mandibular canine tooth is impacted, not only is surgical exposure sufficient but also traction force must be applied orthodontically after the surgical exposure. In addition, age influences the success of the treatment on impacted mandibular canine teeth more than the position and impaction level of the teeth.