Page 153 - FINAL COMPENDIUM 2020-2021 27.2.2022

UNERUPTED MAXILLARY CANINES: TIMING OF REFERRALS
NMRR-19-420-45700

Siti Aishah S

Objective: To determine timing of referrals for unerupted maxillary canines, describe the
gender and ethnicity of patients, appropriateness and treatment provided with
unerupted maxillary cases. Materials and methods: Data were collected retrospectively
between January 2015 – June 2019 and compared to the gold standard based on the
clinical guidelines for management of the palatally ectopic maxillary canine published
Ministry of Health, Malaysia which states that all patients with an impacted canine should
be referred at the age of 10-13 years old. Results: A total of 104 subjects’ records were
included in this study with referrals dated from January 2015 until June 2019. The subjects
comprised of 36 males and 68 females with the ratio of 1:1.9. The majority of patients
were Malays (88 subjects), Chinese ethnicity (12 subjects), followed by equal number of
Indians and Siamese (2 subjects each). The mean age for referrals was 14.3 years old.
Seventy-five of the subjects were referred appropriately and majority of the cases were
referred by the dental officers (63%). Forty-four of the subjects had monitoring of the
unerupted maxillary canines after the initial referrals, whereas 33 of the subjects had
surgical removal of the teeth followed by surgical exposure and bonding of the unerupted
maxillary canines (23 subjects). Conclusion: Timing of referral was delayed compared to
the Ministry of Health, Malaysia guidelines. Continuing education amongst the dental
healthcare providers in view of earlier referrals should be improved in the management
of the unerupted maxillary canines. An audit to view the effectiveness of the guidelines
was suggested in future studies.

Dr Siti Aishah binti Salim
Kota Setar Orthodontic Clinic
Kedah Darul Aman

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