Dental age estimation of young subjects with unilateral palatally displaced canine teeth

Abstract

Introduction: Delayed tooth eruption is often seen in patients with palatally displaced canines (PDC), but there is controversy over whether tooth formation is also delayed. This study attempts to elucidate the answer by addressing methodological shortcomings in previous studies. Methods: Archived records were searched, and 100 patients (aged 8-16 years) with unilateral PDC were identified. Records of 50 women and 50 men were matched for age and sex with unaffected controls. The exclusion criteria included hypodontia. Dental age (DA) was calculated using the population-specific Maltese database and subtracted from the chronological age (CA). Nonparametric tests were used to compare CA DA in patients with PDC and controls to determine the DA of end-of-series teeth. Results: No statistically significant difference with CA DA between patients with PDC and controls was found. In addition, there were no particular teeth significantly delayed in development. Conclusions: Unilateral PDC does not affect dental developmental age, and the end-of-series teeth investigated show no delay in development.