Research on characteristics and treatment duration and method of patients with tooth impaction who visited Gachon University Gil Hospital Orthodontic Department (year 2005-2008)

Abstract

Purpose: An impacted tooth is defined as a tooth that shows delayed eruption and is expected to erupt incompletely by clinical and radiograph examination despite it reaching its expected time of eruption. The aims of this study were to investigate the clinical and radiological characteristics and treatment duration and method of impacted teeth in Korean patients. Materials and Methods: For this study we used clinical records, study models, panoramic radiographs and intraoral photographs of patients who attended Gachon University Gil Hospital Orthodontic Department between 2005 and 2008. There were 164 patients with a total number of 202 impacted teeth. Results: Male patients shows a little more prevalence than female patients (1.13:1). The under 12 age group had the highest prevalence of tooth impaction, and the over 19 age group showed the least prevalence of tooth impaction. The ratio of tooth impaction between the left to right ratio was 1.73:1 and maxilla and mandible was 1.84:1. The impacted teeth were most commonly positioned buccally (76 cases, 41.5%). Full nap closure technique (108 cases, 81.2%)was most frequently used for attachment of surgical traction hooks. Maxillary canine impaction was most commonly encountered both in male and female patients. The mean treatment period was 12.2 months and the success rate of treatment was 90.3%. The canine tooth shows the longest treatment time and highest failure rate. The ankylosis was the major cause of failure. Conclusion: Impacted teeth most commonly show in left side maxilla in the under 12 age group. And it is most commonly positioned buccally. The mean treatment period was 12.2 months, and the success rate of treatment was 90.3%.