Impacted cuspids in a Saudi population: prevalence, etiology and complications

The prevalence, etiology and related complications of impacted maxillary and mandibular cuspids were studied among a convenient sample of 4,898 Saudi patients aged 13 years and older. Results indicate that 175 patients (3.6%) out of a sample had at least one impacted cuspid. Most (22.9%) possessed multiple involvement. Female patients were found to be more concerned about the problem (p < .001). The maxillary arches were usually affected more frequently. The most common location of maxillary cuspid impactions was palatal and the lingually located impaction in the mandible was found to be very rare. In most of the subjects the lack of arch space was the main etiological factor. Cuspid impactions were found to be occasionally associated with various unfavorable sequelae.