Comparison of two surgical methods in combined surgical-orthodontic correction of impacted maxillary canines.

The post-treatment periodontal condition of impacted maxillary canines was examined in two groups of patients. In one group (n =34) the teeth were exposed in the mouth after removal of the bone and soft tissue covering of the crown. In the other group (n =22) the bone covering the crown was removed, whereafter the mucoperiosteal flap was sutured back. In both groups the orthodontic treatment procedures were basically the same. The mean treatment duration was 18 months after radical surgical exposure and 22 months after moderate surgical exposure. The teeth were examined 1-2 years after removal of the fixed appliances. Oral hygiene and gingival inflammation were approximately the same in both groups. The palatal pocket was deeper on teeth subjected to moderate surgical exposure, and the depth also varied more. The loss of fiber attachment was not significantly different except on the palatal surface, where it was greater after radical exposure and also varied more. The interdental bone height, which was measured on radiographs, varied more after radical than after moderate surgical exposure.