Editorial Type:
Article Category: Research Article
 | 
Online Publication Date: 01 May 2025

Impact of orthodontic forced eruption timing on root development of impacted maxillary canines: a linear and volumetric analysis using cone-beam computed tomography images

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DOI: 10.2319/070424-531.1
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ABSTRACT

Objectives

To evaluate root development after forced eruption of impacted maxillary canines before or after complete root development of the contralateral canine.

Materials and Methods

A total of 50 patients (21 male, 29 female; mean age: 12.4 years) with unilateral impaction of maxillary canines were classified to “Immature group” with incomplete root development of the contralateral canine or “Mature group” with complete root development of the contralateral canine. Volume, total length, crown length, root length, and root/crown ratio (R/C) of the impacted canine and the contralateral canine were measured in the posttreatment cone-beam computed tomography images.

Results

In the immature group, total length and root length of impacted canines were 0.68 mm and 0.51 mm shorter than contralateral canines, respectively (P < .05). In the mature group, volume, total length, root length, and R/C of impacted canines were 37.90 mm3, 2.43 mm, 2.53 mm, and 0.26 smaller, respectively, than contralateral canines (P < .001). Crown length also showed a statistically significant difference between impacted canines and contralateral canines (P < .05). When differences between impacted canines and contralateral canines were compared between the immature and mature groups, all variables showed statistically significant differences, with the mean difference in total length and root length being 1.75 mm and 2.02 mm larger, respectively, in the mature group, (P < .001).

Conclusions

Regardless of treatment timing, total length and root length of impacted canines were shorter than those of contralateral canines. Forced eruption of the impacted canine undertaken before root development of the contralateral canine showed better root development in both linear and volumetric measurements.

Copyright: © 2025 by The EH Angle Education and Research Foundation, Inc.

Contributor Notes

 Resident, Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Wonkwang, Iksan, South Korea.
 Professor and Chair, Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Wonkwang, Wonkwang Dental Research Institute, Iksan, Korea.
 Professor, Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Wonkwang, Wonkwang Dental Research Institute, Iksan, Korea; and Visiting Scholar, Postgraduate Orthodontic Program, Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health, A. T. Still University, Mesa, AZ, USA.
Corresponding author: Dr Na-Young Chang, Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Wonkwang University, Wonkwang Dental Research Institute, Daejeon Dental Hospital, 77 Doonsan-ro, Seo-Gu, Daejeon 35233, South Korea (e-mail: esther0705@hanmail.net)
Received: 04 Jul 2024
Accepted: 02 Feb 2025
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