Laterolateral teleradiography as a predictive tool for recovery time of impacted canines

Aim: Management of the included palatal canine represents a common clinical challenge in orthodontics. Among the therapeutic options, the approach of choice involves surgical exposure and orthodontic traction in the arch, to minimize aesthetic, functional and biological risks. The present retrospective clinical study was conducted in order to investigate the possible correlation between specific cephalometric parameters, detected on Laterolateral teleradiography and the duration of forced eruption of canines included in the maxillary bone. Materials and methods: The study included 40 patients, aged 11oto 17 years, with a total of 50 canines included, recording the time required for forced eruption of each element. All subjects were treated with fixed multibracket equipment (MBT prescription) and subjected to a standardized protocol of surgical exposure and elastic traction on am anchoring system. In the pre-treatment phase, the subject underwent orthopantomography and lateral teleradiography from CBCT, with cephalometric analysis according to the Milan School. Linear and angular measurements were taken on the initial images to characterize the position on the canine embedded in the jawbone. Results: No statistically significant correlation were found between the duration of orthodontic arch traction and the analyzed variables, including patient sex and age, nor with linear and angular radiographic parameters detected on orthopantomography and sagittal teleradiography. These measurements therefore allow only a rough estimate of the overall duration of treatment. Conclusions: The results of the present study confirm that the analysis of laterolateral teleradiography and the cephalometric parameters evaluate do not possess significant prognostic value in predicting treatment times in cases of canine inclusion. Radiographic analysis shows that during orthodontic traction, the impacted canines have an average movement speed of approximately 1 MM per month. Correlation between radiographic parameters and traction time are approximately predictive of treatment duration, as factors such as operator experience, traction system, individual biological variables, and management aspects can influence canine emergence times in the arch, regardless of initial radiographic position.