The impacted maxillary canine: a proposed classification for surgical exposure

Computer-Assisted open exposure of palatally impacted canines for orthodontic eruption: A randomized clinical trial

OBJECTIVE

This randomized clinical trial aimed to assess the feasibility of computer-assisted open exposure of palatally impacted canines.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients aged 11-30 years who required orthodontic eruption for the full palatal impaction of their canines were included in this study. Exclusion criteria were psychosocial and dental contraindications of orthodontic treatment, congenital craniofacial disorders, and trauma in the patient's history in the vicinity of the surgical site. Virtual planning software was used to register the intraoral scans and cone-beam computed tomography data and to design a surgical template. In the test group, exposure of the canines was guided by a surgical template, whereas in the control group, the surgeon relied on the surgical plan to localize the impacted canine. The success of the intervention, duration of surgery, and complications, including excessive hemorrhage, damage to the canine or neighboring anatomical landmarks, and postoperative inflammation of the surgical site were assessed. Postoperative pain was reported by the patients using the visual analog pain scale (VAS).

RESULTS

Surgery was deemed successful in all patients in both groups. During healing, no complications were observed. The duration of surgery decreased significantly in the test group (4 min 45.1 s ± 1 min 8.4 s) compared to that in the control group (7 min 22.3 s ± 56.02 s). No statistically significant differences were observed between the VAS scores of the two study groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The application of virtual planning and static navigation is a viable approach for the open exposure of palatally impacted canines.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT05909254 CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Computer-assisted surgery is a feasible method for open exposure of palatally impacted canines, which decreases the duration of surgery compared to the freehand method.

A comprehensive classification for impacted cuspids and bicuspids with a proposal for Difficulty Index Categorization: a single center evaluation of 4165 cases

BACKGROUND

The aim of the current study was to propose a classification of impacted cuspids, and bicuspids based on their spatial position in the maxillary and mandibular arches and their radiological appearance.

METHODS

This prospective study was conducted including all the patients who reported to our center for extractions, orthodontic treatment, missing permanent cuspids/bicuspids, removal of third molar teeth. All patients who reported within a time frame of 6 months were enrolled in the study. Orthopantomogram was advised for all the patients as a part of diagnostic work up. The panoramic radiographs and clinical data were reviewed and patients with evidence of impacted bicuspids and cuspids were included in the study and were advised to undergo a cone beam computed tomography to evaluate the 3-dimensional position of the impacted teeth. Treatment plan was decided based on the position of the impacted teeth and feasibility for orthodontic movement. Standard surgical protocol was followed for all the patients. The duration of the procedure from the time of incision till the suturing were tabulated and the difficulty of extraction was correlated with the current Difficulty Index to validate the same.

RESULTS

A total number of 4165 patients were enrolled in the study and based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 3680 patients were excluded and 487 patients with impacted cuspids/bicuspids were included in the study. A total number of 231 patients had impacted maxillary cuspids and bicuspids and 256 cases had impacted mandibular cuspids/bicuspids. Amongst the 256 mandibular cuspid and bicuspid that were impacted, 62% were in position C while the rest of 38% were in position B. More than ⅓ of the teeth which were in position C had transmigrated (35%). Seventy-three percent of the maxillary teeth were in position C and 69% of these teeth were either transmigrated (29%), or were horizontally (38%) placed in the alveolus or inverted (2%). The rest of the 31% were found to be either mesially inclined or vertical. The average Difficulty Index for maxillary teeth was 8 and mandibular teeth was 9. Mandibular cuspids and bicuspids in position B and C took longer time for surgical removal compared to the maxillary teeth and this was statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

The proposed clinical classification on impacted mandibular cuspids and bicuspids provides a structured approach to plan the treatment based on the 3-dimensional position of the teeth in the arch.

Factors Associated With Successful Surgical Exposure of Impacted Maxillary Canines

PURPOSE

Impacted maxillary canines occur in up to 3% of the population and their eruption is of great importance in establishing, maintaining the shape, aesthetics, and function of the dental arch. Hence, surgical exposure of canines for the purpose of aligning them is a common surgical procedure. This study identifies the frequency and the statistically significant factors associated with successful surgical exposure of impacted maxillary canines and the relative risk factors for repeat surgery.

METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort study of 182 patients who underwent surgical exposure of impacted maxillary canines and orthodontic alignment, over a 5-year period between 2014 and 2018. The variables recorded and analyzed included demographics (age and gender), type of surgery (closed or open exposure), grade of surgeon, and radiographic features on orthopantomogram (canine overlap of adjacent tooth root, vertical canine crown height, canine angulation to midline, position of canine root apex). Outcome data recorded were successful surgical exposure and orthodontic alignment and the need for repeat operation or surgical removal due to ankylosis. The data were analyzed to identify the statistically significant correlates of successful surgical exposure and the relative risk factors associated with repeat surgery.

RESULTS

A total of 182 patients and 232 bone-impacted maxillary surgical canine exposures were analyzed, as 50 patients had bilateral impaction. Mean age was 15 years (range = 10-38 years), with 122 (67%) female to 60 (33%) male ratio. Total of 222/232 (96%) impacted maxillary canine teeth were successfully surgically exposed and 10/232 (4%) required re-exposure surgery. Correlates of successful surgical exposures were open exposure technique (P < .002) and reduced distance of vertical canine crown height from alveolar bone margin (P < .033). Relative risk factors for repeat surgery were increased age, male, closed surgical exposure, grade of surgeon, central impaction, increased overlap of adjacent root, increased vertical height, increased angulation to midline, canine apex position above second premolar and procedure done under local anesthetics.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the largest impacted maxillary canine study to date which has identified the factors that result in successful surgical exposure, hence allow selection of the patients most suitable for this treatment. Secondly, patients with relative risk factors for repeat surgical intervention may be consented appropriately, triaged for a closer orthodontic follow-up and prioritized for surgery to reduce overall treatment time.

Impacted Palatal Canines and Diode Laser Surgery: A Case Report

Introduction

Maxillary canine is the most frequent dental element that could likely remain impacted in the bone structure, with a percentage between 1 and 5%. This study presents a case report using a diode laser for surgical-orthodontics disinclusion of a palatal mucosal impacted permanent left upper canine (2.3) and the simultaneous application of an orthodontic bracket.

Methods

After cementation of the trans-palatal bar to the upper first molars with a hook for orthodontic traction, local anaesthesia with articaine was performed, followed by surgical operculectomy using a diode laser (810 nm wavelength, continuous wave mode with a power output of 3 W, and a 0.4 mm diameter optical fiber), and the orthodontic bracket with a passive metal looped ligature was applied. Subsequently, active elastic traction was applied on 2.3 and the upper arch was bonded for the application of a series of orthodontic wires, lace-back, and metal ligatures. A progressive reactivation of the elastic traction and extraction of 6.3 was necessary to translate the canine into the correct arch position.

Results

Diode laser surgical-orthodontic disinclusion of impacted upper canine was performed successively, resulting in a dry surgical field ideal for orthodontic bracket adhesion. No pain and no swelling have been reported from the patient. The orthodontic treatment allowed the canine to be moved to the correct position in the arch.

Conclusions

This case showed that the diode laser is a valid alternative for the surgical-orthodontic disinclusion of an included tooth element.

Severity and Treatment Difficulty of Impacted Maxillary Canine among Orthodontic Patients in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND

The current study aimed to evaluate the severity and treatment difficulty of impacted maxillary canines and their relationship with gender, age group, and bucco-palatal position.

METHODS

A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted from 2017 to 2021. Patients' data and panoramic radiography were obtained from the orthodontic clinic at King Saud University's Dental University Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The severity factors and treatment difficulty index were used to assess the impacted maxillary canines. Statistical analyses were performed utilizing a chi-square test for categorical variables and an independent t-test for numerical variables, and a p-value of ≤0.05.

RESULTS

There were 171 impacted maxillary canines in total, with a female-to-male subject ratio (11:8) and a mean age (18.7 years). Overall, 77.2% of impacted upper canines were found to be palatal. The severity of canine impaction parameters showed no significant sex or age group predilection. Buccally impacted maxillary canines were characterized by a preferable angulation to the midline, compared to the palatally impacted maxillary canines (p = 0.012). The horizontal overlap of the impacted maxillary canine cusp tip revealed a significant association with the bucco-palatal position of the impacted canine (p < 0.001). Palatal impaction was located more frequently in sectors 3 and 4. Male patients were found to have a higher total score in terms of the treatment difficulty index relative to females (p = 0.046).

CONCLUSION

Despite the severity parameters having revealed no significant gender predilection, males were found to have higher treatment difficulty in maxillary canine impaction than females. The severity of the palatally impacted canine is greater than that of buccal impaction in terms of angulation to the midline and horizontal overlap.

Dental follicles promote soft tissue management in surgical exposure of labially impacted maxillary canine

Background

The present study aimed to report a technically improved operation on the surgical exposure of labially impacted maxillary canine, elaborating the management of soft tissue to achieve better aesthetic results, and post-treatment periodontal health.

Methods

Patients sought orthodontic treatment with unilateral labially impacted maxillary canines were selected in this study. The impacted teeth were assigned to the experimental group and contralateral unimpacted canines were assigned to the control group. The impacted canines were surgically exposed with dissected dental follicle (DF) stitching to muscle and mucosa surrounding the crowns. The gingival index (GI), probing depth (PD), the width of the keratinized gingiva (WKG), gingival scars (GS), bone loss (BL), and apical root resorption (ARR) were recorded after the removal of the fixed appliance. A two-sample t-test was used for independent samples for parametric variables.

Results

A total of 24 patients with unilateral maxillary canine impaction were successfully treated. The outcomes of GI, WKG, GS, BL, and ARR did not indicate statistical significance between the experimental group and the control group.

Conclusions

The preservation of DF promotes soft tissue management in combined surgical and orthodontic treatment of labially impacted maxillary canine to achieve better periodontal status.

Trial Registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2000029091, 2020-01-12.

The VISTA Approach in Canine Disimpaction

Canine disimpaction is always a challenging orthodontic treatment overall, even when the impacted permanent canine is in a high position, especially when in tight relation with the upper incisors’ roots. Conventional treatment methods are usually not capable of performing the correct force direction, consisting of the contemporary movement in the distal and vestibular directions of the canine crown, often provoking, as side effects, the presence of decubitus on the mucous of the lips and cheeks or a poor final appearance of the periodontal support of the disimpacted canine. Among the different approaches, the vertical incision subperiosteal tunnel access (VISTA) technique shows good performance with regard to the direction of the forces and the canine’s periodontal conditions when erupted; it is usually realized through an elastic chain connected to a temporary anchorage device (TAD) in the posterior area. In this paper, a different protocol for the VISTA method is also presented, to be resorted to in cases of difficult miniscrew positioning due to the anatomic conditions or stage of dentitions. The new protocol also considers the use of nickel–titanium coil springs in order to avoid the need of frequent reactivation of the device and consequent patient discomfort, highlighting its advantages and indications with respect to the traditional approach.

A retrospective long-term pulpal, periodontal, and esthetic, follow-up of palatally impacted canines treated with an open or closed surgical exposure technique using the Maxillary Canine Aesthetic Index

INTRODUCTION

The primary objective of this study was to compare the aesthetic outcome of palatally impacted canines treated with an open or closed surgical exposure technique using the Maxillary Canine Aesthetic Index (MCAI) at least 1 year after debonding. Secondary objectives were set on the periodontal outcome, tooth color, pulpal status, and self-reported contentment.

METHODS

The sample of this retrospective study consisted of 53 patients with an average age of 20 years and 7 months at the time of the investigation. A total of 53 canines were investigated. All canines were aesthetically scored with the MCAI. Other outcome variables were investigated, such as gingival inflammation, pocket probing depth, vitality, percussion sensitivity, and tooth color. All patients received a questionnaire to evaluate their appraisal of different parameters.

RESULTS

A statistically significant difference (P < 0.001) was found between the groups treated with an open and closed technique in terms of the MCAI. The closed technique scored excellent in terms of aesthetics, whereas the open technique scored good. The closed technique had more discoloration (P < 0.001) and a delayed response to the cold test (P = 0.021). In general, patients were satisfied with both techniques but considered the treatment time to be very long.

CONCLUSIONS

A closed surgical exposure of palatally impacted maxillary canines is preferred in terms of aesthetics when measured with the MCAI. There was no difference between the 2 techniques in terms of periodontal outcome. Canines treated with a closed exposure tended to have a darker color and delayed response to cold testing.

Surgical Exposure of Impacted Teeth

Impacted incisors, canines, premolars, and second molar are problems encountered frequently by general dentists, orthodontists, and oral and maxillofacial surgeons. The etiology of impacted teeth is multifactorial. Traditional radiographs can be used for location of the impacted tooth but 3-D CBCT is superior in evaluating the tooth's position. Successful management requires an interdisciplinary approach with an orthodontist responsible for the overall success of the treatment plan. Surgical exposure of these impacted teeth is accomplished using an open or closed surgical procedure. Choosing the appropriate surgical procedure and orthodontic treatment plan will result in a stable, predictable, and aesthetic result.

A primary canine and an impacted permanent canine with infection potentially induced an intracranial abscess

Intracranial abscess is a rare but life-threatening disease. There have been no reports on intracranial abscess induced by the residual primary tooth and the impacted successive permanent tooth with infection. We report on an interesting case of a 29-year-old man suffering from an epidural abscess, potentially caused by an infection of the residual primary maxillary right canine and the impacted permanent maxillary right canine. The patient recovered completely after prolonged antibiotic treatment and extraction of both of the suspected teeth. Fusobacterium sp. was isolated from the culture of a peripheral blood sample. This case alerts us to realize that the lack of suitable and timely intervention in oral conditions might produce a harmful effect on general health.

Can intravenous conscious sedation with midazolam be effective at facilitating surgical dentistry in adolescent orthodontic patients? A service evaluation

Background Surgical dentistry during orthodontic care often occurs in adolescence and may involve surgical removal or exposure of teeth. The invasive nature of treatment, combined with dental anxiety, means care can often be provided under general anaesthesia (GA). Best-practice guidelines however endorse conscious sedation as an alternative, where appropriate. Although a limited number of studies have shown safe and effective use of intravenous conscious sedation (IVCS) with midazolam in this cohort, robust evidence to support routine use is lacking. Aim To assess whether IVCS with midazolam can effectively facilitate surgical dentistry in adolescent orthodontic patients in primary care.Method A retrospective service evaluation was undertaken reviewing clinical records of adolescents (aged 12-15 years) undergoing surgical exposure and/or surgical removal of teeth under IVCS with midazolam.Results A total of 174 adolescents (mean age 14.2 years) attended for treatment between 2009 and 2015. Of these adolescents, 98.9% (N = 172) allowed cannulation, with all surgical dentistry completed during a single visit. Midazolam dose ranged from 2-7 mg with 79.1% of patients having good or excellent cooperation and three minor adverse events occurring.Conclusion This service evaluation shows IVCS with midazolam can effectively facilitate surgical orthodontics in carefully selected adolescents. There is however a distinct need to further explore potential for this technique to provide a viable alternative to GA.

Diode Laser Clinical Efficacy and Mini-Invasivity in Surgical Exposure of Impacted Teeth

The gold standard to arrange impacted teeth in the dental arch is represented by a surgical approach followed by orthodontic traction force application. In the literature, many surgical approaches are proposed to reach such a scope. The aim of the present study is to demonstrate how laser technique could positively assist surgical approaches.Study population was composed by 16 patients undergoing orthodontic treatment of 20 impacted teeth. In 10 patients (population A) surgical exposure of the impacted teeth was performed using a 980 nm diode laser, while in the other 10 patients (population B), surgical incision was performed using a traditional lancet.Only 3 patients of the population A needed local anesthesia for surgical procedure while the remaining 7 patients reported only faint pain during surgery. Two patients referred postsurgical pain (numerical rating scale average value = 2) and needed to take analgesics. None of the patients showed other postsurgical side effects (bleeding, edema).All population B patients needed infiltrative anesthesia and referred postsurgical pain (numerical rating scale average value >4) treated with analgesics. Moreover, in such population, 4 patients referred lips edema while 4 showed bleeding and 6 needed surgical sutures of soft tissues.The lack of side effects of laser surgical approach to expose impacted teeth must persuade dental practitioners to choose such a clinical approach to closed surgical approach every time it is possible.

Apicotomy as treatment for failure of orthodontic traction

Objective. The purpose of this study was to present a case report that demonstrated primary failure in a tooth traction that was subsequently treated with apicotomy technique. Case Report. A 10-year-old girl had an impacted upper right canine with increased pericoronal space, which was apparent on a radiographic image. The right maxillary sinus showed an opacity suggesting sinusitis. The presumptive diagnosis was dentigerous cyst associated with maxillary sinus infection. The plan for treatment included treatment of the sinus infection and cystic lesion and orthodontic traction of the canine after surgical exposure and bonding of an orthodontic appliance. The surgical procedure, canine position, root dilaceration, and probably apical ankylosis acted in the primary failure of the orthodontic traction. Surgical apical cut of the displaced teeth was performed, and tooth position in the dental arch was possible, with a positive response to the pulp vitality test. Conclusion. Apicotomy is an effective technique to treat severe canine displacement and primary orthodontic traction failure of palatally displaced canines.