Periodontal health of unilateral labially vs. palatally impacted maxillary canines erupted by closed eruption technique.

Abstract

This study's aim was to compare the periodontal health of labially and palatally impacted maxillary canines erupted by closed eruption technique, and to compare them with the contralateral canines that served as control teeth. A total of 32subjects, 17with unilateral labially impacted maxillary canines and 15with palatally impacted maxillary canines were enrolled in this study. Pretreatment maxillary canine variables were evaluated from initial panoramic radiographs using Nolla stage, α‑angle, d‑depth and s‑sector. The closed eruption technique was used for surgical exposure of the impacted teeth. Posttreatment periodontal parameters such as plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), gingival bleeding index (GBI), probing depth (PD), keratinized gingival width (KGW), attached gingival width (AGW), and gingival thickness (GT) were evaluated to compare the periodontal health with the contralateral canines. Intergroup comparison results exhibited insignificant differences in all periodontal parameters between the labially and palatally impacted maxillary canines. Intragroup comparison results showed asignificant increase in PI, GI, GBI, and PD, and asignificant decrease in AGW, KGW, and GT in the impacted teeth compared to the controls, except for PI in the palatally impacted maxillary canines. The decrease in KGW, AGW, and GT was not associated with the pre-eruptive position of the impacted teeth. These side effects seen after orthodontic treatment of impacted teeth should be followed carefully in the long term.