Canine Impactions: Incidence and Management

Impacted teeth present many problems for the orthodontist. They can compromise tooth movement, esthetics, and functional outcomes. The second most commonly impacted tooth, after the maxillary third molar, is the maxillary canine, with an incidence from 1% to 2.5%. Maxillary canines can be impacted facially or palatally and are more common in female patients than in male patients. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to address the incidence and etiology associated with impacted maxillary canines, the clinical and radiographic evaluation of the situation, and the techniques for managing this problem. Papers related to this topic were identified and reviewed thoroughly. A decision tree involving the various techniques employed to expose impacted canines is presented, together with methods used to identify the location of impacted canines. The impacted canine can be properly managed with proper diagnosis and technique.