Associations between occlusion, jaw relationships, craniofacial dimensions and the occurrence of palatally-displaced canines
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Updated: Mar 8, 2026

Systematic Assessment of Mammalian Skull Specimens for Dental and Temporomandibular Joint Pathology
Published on: August 22, 2022
Fariborz Amini1, Shayesteh Hamedi2, Mona Haji Ghadimi2
1Department of Orthodontics, Dental Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
Background And Purpose:
Cephalometric and arch measurements might predict the occurrence of a palatally-displaced impacted maxillary canine (PDC). Despite their clinical importance, studies in this regard are limited and controversial.
Methods:
In this case-control study, 35 PDC patients and 77 controls aged over 13 years were examined. Eleven cephalometric measurements: N-S, ANS-PNS, ANS-N, S-N-ANS, facial angle (FH/NPog), SNA, SNB, Y-axis (SN/SGn), gonial angle, Go-Gn/SN, and Jarabak Index were performed. The maxillary and mandibular intermolar and interpremolar widths were measured. Patients' sagittal skeletal relationships and centric occlusions (molar) were measured by radiographic and cast examinations. The differences between the two groups in terms of the above-mentioned cephalometric and anatomic variables were assessed using Chi2 and Mann-Whitney U-tests (α=0.05).
Results:
Chi2 showed a significant negative association between dentoalveolar class I (molar) and PDC occurrence (P=0.018), but not between PDC and skeletal sagittal relationships. Facial angle (FH/NPog) and Y-axis (SN/SGn) were more obtuse in patients with PDC (P<0.05). No arch dimensions differed between the two groups.
Conclusions:
PDC tends to accompany molar class II/III but is not associated with upper or lower jaw widths or lengths. Vertical dimensions might be smaller in PDC patients. Some variables were inconclusive and need future assessments.
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