Association between maxillary transverse discrepancy and occurrence of potentially impacted maxillary canines in mixed dentition patients.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the association between transverse maxillary discrepancy and occurrence of potentially impacted maxillary canines in mixed dentition patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted on 85 Pakistani subjects (32 males and 53 females) aged between 8 to 13 years, having good quality orthopantomographs and dental casts. Maxillary transverse discrepancy was assessed by subtracting the mandibular intermolar width from the maxillary intermolar width on dental cast. Maxillary lateral incisors and canines were traced from orthopantomographs, and canines were placed into sector classification. Chi-square test was used to determine the difference in the occurrence of potentially impacted maxillary canines between patients with maxillary transverse discrepancy and patients without maxillary transverse discrepancy. RESULTS: There was no significant difference seen in the occurrence of impacted maxillary canines in patients with and without maxillary transverse discrepancy in mixed dentition patients. CONCLUSION: Patients with maxillary transverse discrepancy may not be at a higher risk of palatal canine impaction. Radiological presence of canine in sector II, III and IV, pose a higher risk of canine impaction.