From Volume 15, Issue 1, January 2022 | Pages 19-25
A 14-year-old medically fit and well patient presented with bilaterally ectopic maxillary canines resorbing the central and lateral incisors. It is relatively rare that both maxillary ectopic canines cause resorption to the central and lateral incisors. Treatment options discussed with the patient are explored as well as case management and how potential complications were minimized. A good result was achieved at the end of the treatment, despite the complex nature of this case.
Maxillary ectopic canines have an incidence of around 1.5% in the general population.1 Around two-thirds of ectopic canines are positioned palatally and the remaining one-third are located labially.2
It is hypothesized that canines become impacted due to a combination of environmental and genetic factors. These include, missing lateral incisors, diminutive/peg lateral incisors and late developing dentitions.1 These factors can contribute to the canine being ectopic owing to a lack of guidance provided by the lateral incisor.3 The multiple genetic components that lead to ectopic canines include abnormal positioning of the tooth bud, their long eruption path and soft or hard tissue obstructions.4 Occurrence of bilaterally impacted canines, sex, familial and population differences between studied groups also suggest the patient's genetics have a role in the incidence of impacted canines.5 Overall, this phenomenon is likely to be due to a multifactorial process where both genetics and the environment play a role.
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