[Orthodontic traction of impacted maxillary canine: a comparison of different ages].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the success rate and the length of orthodontic treatment of impacted maxillary canines in adult and adolescent patients.


METHODS
17 adults who had been treated for a total of 21 impacted maxillary canines, was compared with a younger control group. The control group were chosen for a similar degree of impaction by carefully matching the positions of the impacted canines in 3 dimension. SPSS11.0 software package was used for Chi-square and paired t test.


RESULTS
The success rate among the adults was 85.71% compared with 100% among the control group. There was significant difference between the two groups (P<0.01). The adults showed significant increase in the duration of treating the impacted canines (P<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The success rate for orthodontic resolution of an impacted canine in an adult is significantly lower than in a younger patient and the duration of treatment in adults is expected to take considerably longer.
Zhang
Jun
J
Department of Orthodontics, School of Stomatology, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China.
Zhang
Wen-juan
WJ
Wang
Xu-xia
XX
Xu
Jian-guang
JG
Huang
Yan
Y