Frequency of impacted canines in orthodontic patients presenting to armed forces institute of dentistry

ABSTRACT

The aim of our study was to observe the frequency of patients presenting with impacted canines in our subset of population. This is cross-sectional observational study. The study was conducted in the Orthodontic Department at Armed forces Institute of Dentistry Rawalpindi. Orthopantomographs [OPGs] of 1956 consecutive patients were observed for impacted canines. Thirty two patients were excluded for various reasons. Age and gender was recorded Orthopetomographs [OPGs] and intra-oral photographs were observed to detect the impaction of canines. Out of 1924 orthodontic patients [64] 3.33% were found to have impacted canines. The mean age of the patients presenting with impactions was 18.3 years. The male to female ratio was 12. The 87.5% of the impactions were unilateral. Single tooth impactions were the most common followed by two or three impactions in the same patient. The most frequently impacted tooth in 51.56% of the cases was the right maxillary cuspid. The least common was the right mandibular cuspid, 4.7%. A frequency higher than the previously quoted prevalence was found in our study. Racial and ethnic factors may have a role, further large scale studies are required to validate this assumption