Palatal displacement of canines and maxillary skeletal width.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to determine whether a clinically significant association exists between maxillary skeletal width and palatal canine impaction, also known as palatally displaced canine (PDC).

Methods: Seventy-nine patients with PDC were matched for age, sex, and malocclusion to 79 controls. Maxillary and mandibular skeletal widths and nasal cavity widths were measured on posteroanterior cephalograms; maxillary and mandibular intermolar widths were measured on dental casts; and maxillary interalveolar arch widths at 3 levels (canine, premolar, and first molar) were measured on occlusograms.

Maxillary impacted canine with congenitally absent premolars.

Multiple treatment options are available to patients who have impacted canines in addition to congenitally absent premolars. Management options for impacted maxillary canines can include (1) continued observation, (2) extraction of the primary canine to aid spontaneous eruption, (3) uncovering and bonding of the impacted tooth and its eruption using orthodontic traction, (4) autotransplantation, and (5) extraction followed by prosthetic replacement. The options for the treatment of missing premolars can include the following: (1) maintaining the primary molars, (2) spontaneous space closure after early extraction of the primary molar, (3) autotransplantation, (4) prosthetic replacement, and (5) orthodontic space closure.

Congenitally missing mandibular second premolar: treatment outcome with orthodontic space closure.

Orthodontic treatment for patients with congenitally missing mandibular second premolars can be challenging. Treatment options include keeping the deciduous second molar, extracting the molars and allowing the space to close spontaneously, autotransplantation, prosthetic replacement, and orthodontic space closure. Space closure with orthodontic appliances is demonstrated in this case report.