title: Impacted mandibular canines.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to investigate the incidence of impacted mandibular canines, the associated pathology of these teeth, and to classify them.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective cohort study of 5022 panoramic radiographs taken of patients who presented to the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Service of the Faculty of Dentistry at Ataturk University in Erzurum, Turkey between January, 1998 and March, 2006. The panoramic radiographs and clinical data were reviewed. Observations were made on the status of missing permanent mandibular canines; retained deciduous canines; side and number of mandibular canines; sex and age of patients; and any other associated pathology or symptoms as well as treatment methods employed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of mandibular canine impaction is 1.29% in the 5022 individuals of this Turkish subpopulation. A total of 65 patients had impacted mandibular canines with 33 being females and 32 males. In this study 41 impacted mandibular canines were extracted. Twenty-three canines were attached to bonded buttons for orthodontic eruption purposes. After surgical exposure, one impacted canine was transplanted and the others were left in place for observation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maxillary canine impaction is more frequent than mandibular canine impaction. Mandibular canine impaction incidence in this study was found higher than in the published literature to date. This result may be evidence of an actual increase of the number of impacted mandibular canine teeth among patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Muhammet Selim
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Yavuz
authors.forename: Mutan Hamdi
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Aras
authors.forename: Mustafa Cemil
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Büyükkurt
authors.forename: Sinan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tozoglu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003481:Cuspid / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible; D008875:Middle Aged; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014095:Tooth, Impacted / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology