Management of ectopic maxillary canines: variations among orthodontists

Longitudinal study of root resorption on incisors caused by impacted maxillary canines-a clinical and cone beam CT assessment

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the long-term status of incisors with canine-induced root resorption (CIRR).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Subjects with impacted maxillary canines (IMC) and persisting incisors with CIRR examined with cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), diagnosed ≥ 5 years earlier, were recalled. The resorption grade in the horizontal and vertical plane was assessed on CBCT images at baseline (T0) and follow-up (T1). Clinical examination was done at T1 which included probing depth, gingival retraction, mobility, ankylosis, discoloration and vitality test. In addition, patients completed a questionnaire regarding symptoms from the incisors.

RESULTS

Forty subjects (mean age 13.7 ± 2.1 years) with 43 IMC and 47 incisors with CIRR were recruited. The IMC either spontaneously erupted, were surgically exposed or surgically removed. Thirty-four of the patients were treated with a fixed appliance and six had no orthodontic treatment. The follow-up range was 5.5-14.6 years. None of the incisors were lost or endodontically treated at T1. The horizontal resorption grade was unchanged in 38, improved in 7, and worsened in 2 teeth. The corresponding results for the vertical resorption grade were unchanged in 20 and worsened in 27 teeth. Three incisors with severe horizontal resorption at T0 were significantly more obliterated at T1 (P = .01). No significant differences were found in clinical parameters or patient-reported outcomes between incisors with CIRR and non-resorbed contralateral incisors at T1.

LIMITATIONS

The extent of root resorption during active orthodontic treatment was not possible to assess as only CBCT images from T0 and T1 were available.

CONCLUSION

Incisors with CIRR caused by IMC have a high survival rate in a long-term perspective and do not cause more symptoms or exhibit more signs of pathology than non-resorbed contralateral incisors. Extraction of asymptomatic incisors based solely on root resorption should not be performed routinely.

Root Resorption of Teeth Adjacent to Untreated Impacted Maxillary Canines: A CBCT Study

Objectives

The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the position of the impacted maxillary canine (IMC) and then to inspect the frequency, location, and extent of the consequent root resorption (RR) of the adjacent teeth by using CBCT.

Materials and Methods

Forty-one patients aged 12-68 who have 56 IMC detected on CBCT images were retrospectively examined in 3D. The canine position was determined by assessing the side of impaction, buccopalatal location, the distance of the canine cusp tip to the midline and to the occlusal plane, and canine angulation to the midline. RR of adjacent teeth was analyzed by investigating the nearest location of ectopic canine to adjacent teeth in horizontal and vertical dimensions in addition to measuring the degree of RR.

Results

Twenty-seven (48.2%) impacted canines were on the right side, and 29 (51.8%) were on the left. Most of these teeth 31 (55.4%) were located palatally, while buccal impaction was seen in only 13 (23.2%) canines and 12 (21.4%) were located centrally. The mean distance of the ectopic canine cusp tip to the occlusal plane was significantly higher in males (14.4 mm) than in females (10.7 mm). RR was seen in 9 central incisors (31.03%) and 21 lateral incisors (41.17%) as well as one case in the first and second premolar. This RR was slight for all the adjacent central incisors and premolars.

Conclusions

IMC is more frequent in females, palatally and apically. When left untreated, it may cause RR of some of the adjacent teeth with various degrees, however, with no gender preference.

Delayed diagnosis of displaced and impacted canines - a prospective longitudinal study

Objectives: To assess the frequency and reasons for delayed diagnoses of displaced/impacted canines and to determine to what extent this causes complications. In addition, to assess whether any preventive measures were taken.Materials and methods: Patients with displaced/impacted canines that were diagnosed late; i.e. at an age ≥12 years, were consecutively collected during September 2015 to September 2018 in the County Region of Halland, Sweden. Additionally, patients who had undergone surgical exposure or extraction of an impacted canine during the same time period were identified.Results: Eighty-four individuals (58% girls, 42% boys, mean age: 13.75 ± 1.53 years) with 114 impacted canines were detected among 33,488 adolescents aged 12-20 years, resulting in a low-frequency rate: 84 cases per 100,000 persons. Eighty-six percent of the delayed canines were in the maxilla, the rest in the mandible. Deciduous canines were present in 80% of the cases. Most patients had a dental examination at 9-11 years of age but the position of the canine was not documented in many cases. Root resorption of adjacent teeth was noticed in 13% of the patients. No new clinical procedures or guidelines were developed.Conclusions: The frequency of delayed diagnoses of displaced/impacted canines was low. To minimize the frequency even more, documentation of the canine position during the dental examination should not be forgotten at ages 9-11. Presence of the deciduous canine can be used as a clinical indicator that the position of the permanent canine needs to be investigated.

Expert panels as a reference standard in orthodontic research: An assessment of published methods and reporting

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to investigate the expert panel methodology applied in orthodontics and its reporting quality. Additionally, the relationship between the reporting quality and a range of variables was explored.

METHODS

PubMed was searched for orthodontic studies in which the final diagnosis or assessment was made by 2 or more experts published up to March 16, 2015. Reporting quality assessment was conducted using an established modified checklist. The relationship between potential predictors and the total score was assessed using univariable linear regression.

RESULTS

We identified 237 studies with a mean score of 9.97 (SD, 1.12) out of a maximum of 15. Critical information about panel methodology was missing in all studies. The panel composition differed substantially across studies, ranging from 2 to 646 panel members, with large variations in the expertise represented. Only 17 studies (7.2%) reported sample size calculations to justify the panel size. Panel members were partly blinded in 65 (27.4%) studies. Most studies failed to report which statistic was used to compute intrarater (65.8%) and interrater (66.2%) agreements. Journal type (nonorthodontic: β, 0.23; 95% CI, -0.07 to 0.54 compared with orthodontic), publication year (β, 0; 95% CI, -0.02 to 0.02 for each additional year), number of authors (1-3: β, 0.30; 95% CI, -0.13 to 0.74 compared with at least 6; 4-5: β, 0.18; 95% CI, -0.29 to 0.33 compared with at least 6), and number of centers involved (single: β, 0.20; 95% CI, -0.14 to 0.54 compared with multicenter) were not significant predictors of improved reporting. Studies published in Asia and Australia had significantly lower scores compared with those published in Europe (β, -0.54; 95% CI, -0.92 to -0.17).

CONCLUSIONS

Formal guidelines on methodology and reporting of studies involving expert panels are required.

Web-based evaluation of experts' opinions on impacted maxillary canines forced eruption using CBCT

AIM

This study aims at examining the difficulty in performing forced eruption of impacted maxillary canines, using CBCT information and according to experienced orthodontist's opinion. The second aim was to find the most important factors related to this decision.

METHODS

Based on a careful literature review on impacted maxillary canines, ten main factors were selected to assess difficulties associated with impacted teeth. Thirty six consecutive patients with 50 impacted maxillary canines were examined and variables were measured for each impacted tooth using Dolphin 3D software. Ten orthodontists assessed the radiographs of teeth and provided their opinion on the difficulty in bringing impacted teeth into occlusion named subjective degree of difficulty (SDD). The correlation established between mean SDD of each tooth and measured variables were analyzed by means of linear regression.

RESULTS

Mean SDD was 6.45 ± 1.22 for all 50 teeth. Linear regression showed a high coefficient of correlation between mean SDD and age, dilacerations, vertical height, angulation and horizontal overlap (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

To predict the difficulty of impacted maxillary canines forced eruption, according to the opinion of experienced orthodontists, the factors age, dilaceration, angulation, overlap and vertical distance from the occlusal plane are the most important variables.

Survey Methods to Optimize Response Rate in the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network

Surveys of health professionals typically have low response rates, and these rates have been decreasing in the recent years. We report on the methods used in a successful survey of dentist members of the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network. The objectives were to quantify the (1) increase in response rate associated with successive survey methods, (2) time to completion with each successive step, (3) contribution from the final method and personal contact, and (4) differences in response rate and mode of response by practice/practitioner characteristics. Dentist members of the network were mailed an invitation describing the study. Subsequently, up to six recruitment steps were followed: initial e-mail, two e-mail reminders at 2-week intervals, a third e-mail reminder with postal mailing a paper questionnaire, a second postal mailing of paper questionnaire, and staff follow-up. Of the 1,876 invited, 160 were deemed ineligible and 1,488 (87% of 1,716 eligible) completed the survey. Completion by step: initial e-mail, 35%; second e-mail, 15%; third e-mail, 7%; fourth e-mail/first paper, 11%; second paper, 15%; and staff follow-up, 16%. Overall, 76% completed the survey online and 24% on paper. Completion rates increased in absolute numbers and proportionally with later methods of recruitment. Participation rates varied little by practice/practitioner characteristics. Completion on paper was more likely by older dentists. Multiple methods of recruitment resulted in a high participation rate: Each step and method produced incremental increases with the final step producing the largest increase.

Records needed for orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning: a systematic review

Background

Traditionally, dental models, facial and intra-oral photographs and a set of two-dimensional radiographs are used for orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning. As evidence is lacking, the discussion is ongoing which specific records are needed for the process of making an orthodontic treatment plan.

Objective

To estimate the contribution and importance of different diagnostic records for making an orthodontic diagnosis and treatment plan.

Data sources

An electronic search in PubMed (1948–July 2012), EMBASE Excerpta Medica (1980–July 2012), CINAHL (1982–July 2012), Web of Science (1945–July 2012), Scopus (1996–July 2012), and Cochrane Library (1993–July 2012) was performed. Additionally, a hand search of the reference lists of included studies was performed to identify potentially eligible studies. There was no language restriction.

Study selection

The patient, intervention, comparator, outcome (PICO) question formulated for this study was as follows: for patients who need orthodontic treatment (P), will the use of record set X (I) compared with record set Y (C) change the treatment plan (O)? Only primary publications were included.

Data extraction

Independent extraction of data and quality assessment was performed by two observers.

Results

Of the 1041 publications retrieved, 17 met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 4 studies were of high quality. Because of the limited number of high quality studies and the differences in study designs, patient characteristics, and reference standard or index test, a meta-analysis was not possible.

Conclusion

Cephalograms are not routinely needed for orthodontic treatment planning in Class II malocclusions, digital models can be used to replace plaster casts, and cone-beam computed tomography radiographs can be indicated for impacted canines. Based on the findings of this review, the minimum record set required for orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning could not be defined.

Systematic review registration number

CRD42012002365

Questionnaire surveys of dentists on radiology

OBJECTIVES

Survey by questionnaire is a widely used research method in dental radiology. A major concern in reviews of questionnaires is non-response. The objectives of this study were to review questionnaire studies in dental radiology with regard to potential survey errors and to develop recommendations to assist future researchers.

METHODS

A literature search with the software search package PubMed was used to obtain internet-based access to Medline through the website www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed. A search of the English language peer-reviewed literature was conducted of all published studies, with no restriction on date. The search strategy found articles with dates from 1983 to 2010. The medical subject heading terms used were "questionnaire", "dental radiology" and "dental radiography". The reference sections of articles retrieved by this method were hand-searched in order to identify further relevant papers. Reviews, commentaries and relevant studies from the wider literature were also included.

RESULTS

53 questionnaire studies were identified in the dental literature that concerned dental radiography and included a report of response rate. These were all published between 1983 and 2010. In total, 87 articles are referred to in this review, including the 53 dental radiology studies. Other cited articles include reviews, commentaries and examples of studies outside dental radiology where they are germane to the arguments presented.

CONCLUSIONS

Non-response is only one of four broad areas of error to which questionnaire surveys are subject. This review considers coverage, sampling and measurement, as well as non-response. Recommendations are made to assist future research that uses questionnaire surveys.

Root resorption of the maxillary lateral incisor caused by impacted canine: a literature review

Root resorption of maxillary lateral incisors caused by erupting canines is well known and a relatively common phenomenon. However, much debate and conflicting evidence exists with regard to the actual resorption trigger and potential etiological factors involved. Consequently, there are no obvious clinical clues concerning prevention and diagnosis as well as subsequent treatment decisions. The introduction of cone beam computer tomography has recently allowed drawing a new and much more documented light on the diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. However, no investigations have determined that this new information may result in another and better diagnostic approach and an improved treatment outcome. Therefore, the present review will attempt to summarize the existing evidence on two- and three-dimensional images and try to link the radiological observations to any further preventive, diagnostic, and/or therapeutic measures. Detection thresholds, accuracy, and reliability of impacted canine localization and neighboring root resorption risks will also be considered. This review demonstrates how adding a third-dimension to the radiographic information may notably alter the prevalence of root resorptions and descriptions of this prevalence. In any case, further investigation is needed to determine resorption detection thresholds in various two-dimensional and three-dimensional imaging techniques, as well as to determine therapeutic thresholds and criteria for strategic tooth extraction based on radiographic manifest and not manageable resorption lesions.