Palatally impacted canines: aetiology of impaction and the scope for interception. Report of cases outside the guidelines for interception.

Patients with palatally impacted canines have an increased incidence of missing or anomalous lateral incisors adjacent to the impacted canines. Their arches are often uncrowded and this, in part, is linked to the increased incidence of missing or anomalous lateral incisors. Other teeth are also more frequently missing. The present guidelines for the relief of palatally impacted canines by extraction of the deciduous canine require that the patient is aged between 10-13 years and that normal space conditions are present. Two successful case reports are presented which were outside the recommended guidelines. The technique of relieving a palatal impaction by extraction of the deciduous canine has wide application.