REDUCING THE INCIDENCE OF UNERUPTED PALATALLY DISPLACED CANINES BY EXTRACTION OF DECIDUOUS CANINES - THE HISTORY AND APPLICATION OF THIS PROCEDURE WITH SOME CASE-REPORTS

The procedure of extracting the deciduous canine to reduce the inciden ce of the unerupted palatally displaced canine was first described in 1951, and an article solely devoted to the technique appeared in 1959. The procedure then virtually vanished until 1981. A prospective study published in 1988 created the first widespread interest in the method which now appears in major texts. Why the procedure succeeds is uncer tain. In the 1950s non-resorption of the deciduous canine was thought to cause palatal deflection of its successor and therefore it appeared appropriate to extract the obstructing deciduous tooth. It has been e stimated that the technique should be successful in approximately one in three of all cases in the population aged 10 to 13 years. The earli er the detection the better the prognosis, because the unerupted canin e frequently moves more mesially with time. Before the procedure is at tempted it is important to discuss possible outcomes with the patient. Three successfully treated cases are illustrated. The first conformed with the guidelines of having an uncrowded maxillary arch and being a ged between 10 and 13 years. The second was aged 15 years 2 months at commencement. An unsuccessful surgical exposure of the permanent canin es followed by extraction of the deciduous canines was carried out in the third case.