Anıl DEMİREL, Fırat OĞUZ, Sabahattin BOR
Anatolian Current Medical Journal - 2026;8(3):531-537
Aims: To evaluate whether angular measurements obtained from panoramic radiographs can be used to distinguish the buccal or palatal position of impacted maxillary canines. Methods: This retrospective study included 200 impacted maxillary canines (100 buccal, 100 palatal). Panoramic radiographs from 2020-2025 were reviewed, and only cases with corresponding cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images were included. Tooth position was confirmed using CBCT. On panoramic radiographs, three angular parameters were evaluated: the angle between the maxillary canine long axis and the midline (alpha), the angle between the canine and lateral incisor long axes (beta), and the angle between the canine long axis and the occlusal plane (gamma). Group comparisons were performed using Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Correlations were analyzed using Pearson or Spearman tests. Reliability was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Results: Significant differences were found between buccal and palatal groups for all angular measurements (p<0.001). Alpha and beta angles were higher in palatally impacted canines, whereas gamma values were higher in buccally impacted canines. Strong positive correlation was found between alpha and beta, while alpha-gamma and beta-gamma showed negative correlations. Intraobserver and interobserver ICC values exceeded 0.95. Conclusions: Angular measurements on panoramic radiographs may assist in differentiating buccal and palatal impactions of maxillary canines and support clinical decision-making.
