title: Early prediction of maxillary canine impaction from panoramic radiographs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Treatment of impacted maxillary canines frequently requires surgical intervention, which can involve substantial complications. Thus, it is desirable to identify a reliable method for the early diagnosis of canine displacement. In this study, we sought to determine whether impaction of a maxillary canine can be predicted using measurements made on a panoramic radiograph.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study was conducted at a dental hospital in Hong Kong with panoramic radiographs. Geometric measurements were made on 384 panoramic radiographs of patients with a unilaterally impacted maxillary canine (group I) to characterize its presentation and compare them with the unaffected antimere (group II).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a clinically discernible difference of 4 mm at the age of 8 years and beyond between the mean distance of the tip of the impacted canine (group I) and that of the antimere (group II) from the occlusal plane (P <0.05). Furthermore, there was a statistically significant difference at the age of 9 years and beyond between the 2 groups according to the position in different sectors and according to the mean angle made with the midline (P <0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diagnosis of maxillary canine impaction is possible at 8 years of age by using geometric measurements on panoramic radiographs.
authors: Terna Dental College and Hospital, Navi Mumbai, India. aksajnani@gmail.com
authors: Anand K
authors: AK
authors: Sajnani
authors: Nigel M
authors: NM
authors: King
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003481:Cuspid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008437:Maxilla / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D009805:Odontogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014078:Tooth Eruption; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000254:growth & development; D014095:Tooth, Impacted / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D055815:Young Adult