Avaliação tomográfica de caninos superiores impactados por vestibular e por palatal

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Among the teeth most commonly impacted, the canine stands out. Canine impaction is associated with malocclusion and impaired function, midline deviation and aesthetic impairment. Impacted canines may be displaced palatally or to buccal side, differences in the etiologic factors that lead to canine impaction and displacement have been raised in the literature, however the results of the studies are not conclusive. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to compare clinical and demographic data of impacted canines displaced to buccal and palatally. METHODOLOGY: Tomographic images of 65 patients with an impacted maxillary canine were selected. Participants were allocated into two group, acoording to the displacement of the canine. Group 1 (Buccal) was composed of participants who presented canines impacted by buccal or in the mid-alveolar position. Group 2 (Palatally) patients with palatal impacted canines. The clinical and demographic characteristics of the patients were compared using the Pearson Chi-square test and the Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS: Considering the 65 canines evaluated, 26 were displaced to buccal side and 39 to palatal. The most affected sex was the female. Mean age of diagnosis was greater in female patients than males, 34.86 ± 12.26 versus 20.83 ± 9.07. Similar results were also found to the Palatal group, the mean age of females was 36.32 ± 11.91 and of males it was 27.94 ± 9.93. CONCLUSION: There are no differences of sex, side or age of the patient between patients with maxillary canines impacted by buccal or palatal. The canine impacted and displaced to palatal is more frequent.