Short- and long-term periodontal evaluation of impacted canines treated with a closed surgical-orthodontic approach.
OBJECTIVE
The aims were to evaluate and compare the periodontal status of unilateral impacted maxillary canines treated by a combined surgical-orthodontic technique with that of normally erupted controlateral canines.


METHODS
One hundred and twenty-five patients, consecutively enrolled, aged between 12.8 and 52.0 years, 31 males and 94 females, presented one impacted maxillary canine (test group) and the controlateral canine normally erupted (control group). All cases were treated by a surgical flap and orthodontic traction directed to the centre of the crest and evaluated periodontally at the end of treatment. Fifty-eight patients were followed up for a mean of 3.4 +/- 0.5 years. Pocket depth (PD), keratinized tissue width (KT) and gingival recession were recorded. Multilevel models were created.


RESULTS
At the end of the orthodontic treatment, PD and KT of the 125 impacted canines were slightly, but statistically significantly higher than controls. Only one treated canine showed a recession (1 mm). At follow-up (58 patients), this difference decreased and the two groups were not significantly different.


CONCLUSIONS
The combined technique permitted the traction of the impacted canines to the centre of the crest, thus simulating a physiological eruption pattern. Correct alignment and good periodontal status were obtained.
Crescini
Aldo
A
Department of Orthodontics, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
Nieri
Michele
M
Buti
Jacopo
J
Baccetti
Tiziano
T
Mauro
Saverio
S
Prato
Giovan Paolo Pini
GP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000379:methods; D003481:Cuspid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005889:Gingival Recession / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective / Q000379:methods*; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000209:etiology; D011859:Radiography; D012737:Sex Factors; D014095:Tooth, Impacted / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*