[Localisation of maxillary impacted canines by using a selected angle and linear indices].

INTRODUCTION The aim of the work was to present a diagnostic value of selected indices and angles in orthodontic-surgical treatment of impacted maxillary canine. MATERIAL AND METHODS 134 records with panoramic views of patients treated in the Department of Orthodontics of the Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin because of occurrence of impacted maxillary canine (IMC) constituted the study material. Both linear (for example: the relation of length to mesial-distal width of IMC, and relation of mesial-distal width of IMC to the mesial-distal width of medial incisor on the side of IMC) and angle indices (the angle between the long axis of IMC and occlusal plane) were calculated on the outline of each IMC and neighboring teeth. RESULTS The study showed that values of described indices were dependent on the vestibular-palatal position of IMC. The relation of the length to the mesial-distal width of IMC assumed the highest values for vestibulary positioned canines with regard to decreased width of the crown of these canines on the panoramic view (a phenomenon of parallax). The relation of the mesial-distal width of IMC to the mesial-distal width of IMC of the opposite side in the group of persons with unilaterally IMC had lower mean values in case of vestibular IMC, identically like the relation of the mesial-distal width of IMC to the mesial-distal width of medial incisor on the side of IMC. The value of the relation of the distance of the root's apex of IMC from the median line to the distance of the incisor cusp of IMC from the median line amounted from 1.21-3.28, and its increase was evidence of a more verticular position of IMC. The mean value of the angle between the long axis of IMC and the occlusal plane (oz angle) oscillated between 51.6-85.6 degrees for unilateral IMC, and between 46.7-90 degrees for bilateral IMC, respectively. CONCLUSIONS 1. The described indices can be supportive in the assessment of localizing unilateral and bilateral IMC. 2. They assume various values for right- and left-sided impacted upper canines, both palatally and vestibularly positioned. 3. The value of the oz angle is dependent on syntopie of IMC.