Localization of impacted maxillary canines by panoramic tomography.

In an unselected series of 116 cases of impacted maxillary canines the prevalence of palatally located teeth was 76% and of labially located teeth 9%. The teeth showing a horizontal or or mesio-angular inclination were usually palatally located, while those in vertical position were usually located either in the middle of the alveolar ridge or labially. About 86% of the canines had migrated in the mesial direction. The closer to the intermaxillary suture the crown of an impacted maxillary canine had migrated, the more often was its location palatal. All canines which in the panoramic tomographs were projected at the site of the root of the central incisor were palatally located. Theoretically, a single panoramic tomograph may be used in determining the labio-palatal location of impacted canines. Impacted teeth located palatally are more enlarged in width in the radiograph than are adjacent normally located teeth. Correspondingly, labially situated teeth appear diminished. According to the present study, t...