Palatally impacted canine and maxillary arch width

Abstract

Abstract

Objective The aim of this case-control study was to investigate the association between palatally impacted canines and maxillary arch width.

Method Maxillary arch width was identified for a sample of patients with palatally impacted canines by measuring the maxillary inter-canine, inter-premolar and inter-molar widths. Maxillary arch width of patients with palatally impacted canines was compared with a control group of patients with normally erupted canines. The measurements were taken on study models of both groups using electronic digital callipers.

Results Records of 58 subjects were assessed. Subjects in this study are orthodontic patients between 13 to 16 years of age with mean age of 14 years. Study group included 29 patients who have palatally impacted canines (PIC) and control group included 29 patients who did not present with palatally impacted canines.

Statistical method T-tests were used to assess the significance of the difference in maxillary arch width between the two groups. T-test showed no statistically significant difference in arch width between patients with and patients without (PIC).

Conclusion For our sample there was no association between arch width and the presence or absence of palatally impacted canines.