Periodontal health of unilateral labially vs. palatally impacted maxillary canines erupted by closed eruption technique

Objective This study's aim was to compare the periodontal health of labially and palatally impacted maxillary canines erupted by closed eruption technique, and to compare them with the contralateral canines that served as control teeth. Materials and methods A total of 32 subjects, 17 with unilateral labially impacted maxillary canines and 15 with palatally impacted maxillary canines were enrolled in this study. Pretreatment maxillary canine variables were evaluated from initial panoramic radiographs using Nolla stage, alpha-angle, d-depth and s-sector. The closed eruption technique was used for surgical exposure of the impacted teeth. Posttreatment periodontal parameters such as plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), gingival bleeding index (GBI), probing depth (PD), keratinized gingival width (KGW), attached gingival width (AGW), and gingival thickness (GT) were evaluated to compare the periodontal health with the contralateral canines. Results Intergroup comparison results exhibited insignificant differences in all periodontal parameters between the labially and palatally impacted maxillary canines. Intragroup comparison results showed a significant increase in PI, GI, GBI, and PD, and a significant decrease in AGW, KGW, and GT in the impacted teeth compared to the controls, except for PI in the palatally impacted maxillary canines. Conclusion The decrease in KGW, AGW, and GT was not associated with the pre-eruptive position of the impacted teeth. These side effects seen after orthodontic treatment of impacted teeth should be followed carefully in the long term.