A CLINICAL COMPARISON OF THE RATE OF MAXILLARY CANINE RETRACTION INTOHEALED AND RECENT EXTRACTION SITES - A PILOT-STUDY

The rate of movement of the maxillary canines into the healed or recen t extraction alveolus of the first premolar was measured in 22 patient s aged 10-27 years. On one side of the dental arch, the first premolar was extracted. After a median time of 86 days, the contralateral firs t premolar was extracted and the distalization of both canines started using Gjessing canine retraction springs. The experiment was ended wh en one of the two canines had been sufficiently distalized. Recordings of the positions of the canines at the beginning of the study, at the start of the distalization and at the end were made from dental casts and standardized intraoral radiographs. The canine on the recent extr action side moved faster than that on the healed side, but also tipped somewhat more. The reasons for the increased tipping and the faster m ovement are discussed.