Prevalence of Unerupted Maxillary Canines in Orthodontic Patients

Abstract

Background: The main goal of this study is to analyze the prevalence of unerupted canines in the maxilla among orthodontic patients over a five-year period. Additional objectives include determining prevalence by gender, presence of unilateral or bilateral retention, and, in cases of unilateral retention, the frequency in the left versus right quadrant.

Methods: By reviewing the database of orthopantomogram radiographs taken at Policlinic Musa over five years (2018–2023), 523 orthopantomograms of orthodontic patients with unerupted maxillary canines were selected. The chosen patients were divided based on gender, presence of unilateral or bilateral retention, and the localization of unilateral retention in the right or left quadrant.

Main findings: The study found that the prevalence of unerupted maxillary canines in orthodontic patients was 4.59%. The sample consisted of a higher proportion of females (75%) compared to males (25%). Of all cases of retention, 75% were unilateral and 25% bilateral. Among unilateral cases, 55.56% were in the left quadrant and 44.44% in the right, but this difference was not statistically significant. No significant difference was observed in the type of retention between genders; however, unilateral retention was always on the right side in males (100%) and more frequently on the left in females (83.3%), with these differences being statistically significant. 

Principal conclusion: The study confirmed the hypothesis that the prevalence of canine retention in the maxilla is less than 5% and occurs more often unilaterally.