Orthodontic treatment of palatally impacted canine

Chang, Young Il; Sohn, Young Hwa; Kim, Tae Woo

Abstract

Upper canine is described as 'cornerstone' of maxilla, and its importance is implicated by long root and good alveolar support, The incidence of impaction of upper canine is the second most frequent next to the third molar because it takes a long period of time to develop, and has a complicated path of eruption, and erupts lately. Generally, the patient who has a palatally impacted canine visit the clinic primarily due to a missing of canine after 12-13 years old. Palatally impacted canine is different from labially impacted canine in its cause and treatment process, It is due to malposition or anomalous lateral incisor rather than arch length deficiency. Once the impaction is identified, the first stage of the treatment is to localize the lesion by radiographic examinations or others and according to severity, orthodontic traction, or transplantation should be considered, and comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plan of malocclusion should be established, Properly managed impacted canine can provide funtion and esthetic through proper diagnosis and treatment of extraction of canine is not indicated.