SUMMARY There is lack of consensus with respect to the preferred surgical procedure for the treatment of palatally impacted maxillary canines. The aim of this study was to evaluate post-treatment periodontal status of palatally impacted canines treated by open technique with free eruption and closed flap technique and compare it with naturally erupted canines. The subjects comprised 43 patients treated for unilateral palatally impacted maxillary canines and examined 4.19±1.44 months (3-6 months) after removal of the fixed appliance. The group 1 comprised subjects treated by open technique with free eruption (n = 22) and group 2 by closed technique (n = 21). Post-treatment examination comprised periodontal and radiographic examination. There were no significant intergroup differences with respect to periodontal pocket depth or bone support. However, compared with contralateral quadrants with normally erupted canines, quadrants with impacted canines exhibited significant bone loss at the distal contact point of the lateral incisor and the mesial contact point of the canine. The duration of treatment was 28.41±4.96 months for group 1 and 32.19±11.73 months for group 2 (P > 0.05). The mean treatment time required to achieve eruption/extrusion of the impacted canine was 3.05±1.07 months for group 1 and 6.86±4.53 months (P < 0.01) for group 2. It is concluded that choice of surgical method is not associated with any significant differences in post-treatment periodontal status of palatally impacted canines and adjacent teeth.

Objective:To evaluate the impact of surgical-orthodontic treatment and the initial vertical and mesiodistal position of palatally impacted maxillary canines on the periodontal health of impacted canines and adjacent teeth. Materials and Methods:The study group consisted of 32 patients with unilateral palatally impacted maxillary canines. The initial position of the impacted canines was assessed on panoramic images. The treatment protocol of the impacted canines included surgical exposure with the closed-eruption technique and fixed orthodontic appliances. Results: A significant increase in pocket depth was found at the canine mesiopalatal point after surgical-orthodontic treatment. Also, a correlation was found between the initial mesiodistal and vertical position of the impacted canine and the posttreatment periodontal status of the impacted canine, the adjacent lateral incisor, and the first premolar. Conclusions: A combined surgical-orthodontic approach in the treatment of impacted maxillary canines produces clinically acceptable periodontal conditions. The average increase in pocket depth was less than 4 mm and clinically unimportant for most patients.

Objective: To determine the activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in the pulp of orthodontically intruded teeth and to test the sensitivity of these teeth by means of electrical pulp testing (EPT). Materials and Methods:The study sample consisted of 21 healthy subjects who needed extraction of first premolars for orthodontic reasons. In every subject, one premolar included in a 0.016Љ-0.022Љ stainless steel spring from the first molar and loaded by the force was regarded as a test tooth. The magnitude of the intrusive tipping force for every tooth was calculated with the use of ANSYS 10.0 software. The contralateral premolar was used as a control tooth. After 7 days, the spring was removed, and EPT was applied to test and control teeth. The teeth were extracted, and the dental pulp was removed. AST activity in the pulp was determined spectrophotometrically at 20ЊC. Results: Estimated mean AST activity values ranged from 0.572 Ϯ 0.097 U/mg in the test teeth to 0.348 Ϯ 0.053 U/mg in the control teeth (P Ͻ .01). The EPT test showed significant differences between test and control teeth (P Ͻ .001). The mean estimated magnitude of the intrusive tipping force was 61 Ϯ 4.5 g. Conclusion:Seven days of orthodontic intrusion can cause metabolic changes in the pulp expressed by increased AST activity. The increased threshold in the pulp reaction to EPT indicates changes in the neural response of the pulp.

Different durations of orthodontic intrusion, defined as 14 days of load and 7 days of load followed by 7 resting days, were not reflected by electrical pulp testing or by aspartate aminotransferase activity levels in the pulp of the affected teeth. However, the response threshold to electrical pulp stimulation was elevated in all tested teeth.

Background and objectives: Impacted third molars (ITM) are the most commonly-impacted teeth. There is a risk for ITM to cause a number of pathological conditions, and external root resorption (ERR) of adjacent teeth is one of the most prevalent. Retaining or prophylactic extraction of ITM is a polemic topic. External root resorption of adjacent teeth is one of possible indications for prophylactic removal of ITM. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between external root resorption (ERR) on the distal aspect of second molars’ roots and positional parameters of ITM. Methods: Cone beam computed tomography scans of 109 patients (41 males, 68 females; mean age 26.4 ± 7.9 years) with 254 ITM (131 in the maxilla and 123 in the mandible) were retrospectively analyzed. Positional parameters of ITM (mesio-distal position, angulation, impaction depth, and available eruption space) were evaluated. The presence, location, and depth of ERR of adjacent second molars were assessed. Results: Analysis showed a relationship between ITM impaction depth, mesial inclination angle, and the presence of ERR. Mesial inclination angle of more than 13.6° increased the odds of ERR occurrence by 5.439 (95% CI, 2.97–9.98). ITM presence at the level of ½ of roots of the adjacent second molar or more apically increased the odds of ERR occurrence by 2.218 (95% CI, 1.215–4.048). No significant correlation was detected between the occurrence of ERR and patient age, gender, or the available eruption space in the mandible. Depth of ERR did not depend on its location. Conclusions: Incidence of ERR in second molars is significantly associated with mesial inclination and a deep position of ITM.