Association between Ectopic Mandibular and Maxillary Canines.

AIM: The aims of the present study were (1) to assess the prevalence of ectopic mandibular canines and (2) to evaluate whether an association exists between maxillary and mandibular canine ectopia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The records of 983 patients (males and females) were divided systematically into two groups: group I (454 patients) (control group) included patients who attended the clinic from September 2013 to August 2014, while group II (529 patients) included patients who attended the clinic from September 2014 to August 2015. Group I was used to assess the prevalence of ectopic mandibular canines in the population, while group II was used to obtain 40 radiographs of ectopic maxillary canines, which comprised group To investigate any association between maxillary and mandibular canines, the prevalence of ectopic mandibular canines was assessed in group Canine positions were assessed as follows: (1) amount of horizontal canine overlap with the adjacent lateral incisor root; (2) the angle between the canine and true vertical. RESULTS: The prevalence of ectopic mandibular canines in the population (group I) was 5.3% (24 of 454 patients); in group 22.5% (9 of 40) of maxillary canine cases exhibited ectopic mandibular canines. Group II1 had a significantly higher prevalence of ectopic mandibular canines than did the control group (group I) (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of mandibular ectopic canines was 5.3%. Ectopic mandibular canines were highly associated with ectopic maxillary canines; a quarter of patients with ectopic maxillary canines are expected to have mandibular ectopia. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Dentists should be aware of all dental anomalies, particularly, impacted canines. Early and interceptive management of impacted canines increases the chance of canine eruption.