Risk of developing palatally displaced canines in patients with early detectable dental anomalies: a retrospective cohort study

The early recognition of risk factors for the occurrence of palatally displaced canines (PDC) can increase the possibility of impaction prevention. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the risk of PDC occurrence in children with dental anomalies identified early during mixed dentition. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The sample comprised 730 longitudinal orthodontic records from children (448 females and 282 males) with an initial mean age of 8.3 years (SD=1.36). The dental anomaly group (DA) included 263 records of patients with at least one dental anomaly identified in the initial or middle mixed dentition. The non-dental anomaly group (NDA) was composed of 467 records of patients with no dental anomalies. The occurrence of PDC in both groups was diagnosed using panoramic and periapical radiographs taken in the late mixed dentition or early permanent dentition. The prevalence of PDC in patients with and without early diagnosed dental anomalies was compared using the chi-square test (p<0.01), relative risk assessments (RR), and positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV). RESULTS: PDC frequency was 16.35% and 6.2% in DA and NDA groups, respectively. A statistically significant difference was observed between groups (p<0.01), with greater risk of PDC development in the DA group (RR=2.63). The PPV and NPV was 16% and 93%, respectively. Small maxillary lateral incisors, deciduous molar infraocclusion, and mandibular second premolar distoangulation were associated with PDC. CONCLUSION: Children with dental anomalies diagnosed during early mixed dentition have an approximately two and a half fold increased risk of developing PDC during late mixed dentition compared with children without dental anomalies.