Loading

Open Access Journal of Dental and Oral Surgery
[ ISSN : 2833-0994 ]


Delayed Referral of Patients with Impacted Palatal Canines

Research Article
Volume 1 - Issue 1


Wattage Kathya Leoni Perera*, Ranatunga Arachchige Tilan Madujith Jayawardana, Sumith Loku Pathirage and Dayanath Kumara Dias

Published : April 03, 2020

Abstract

Objective: To assess the referral practice of general dental practitioners in the Southern region of Sri Lanka regarding palatally impacted maxillary canines. Design:A retrospective clinical audit. Setting: Orthodontic and Maxillofacial Unit of the Teaching Hospital, Karapitiya, Sri Lanka. Subjects and Methods: Data were collected from 214 consecutive patients that were referred between 1st of July 2017 to 30th of June 2019. The data were compared with the clinical guidelines laid by the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 2010 regarding the referral of impacted palatal canines. Results: 182 patients were referred concerning palatal impactions and 121(66.5% of palatal impactions) were referred later than 12 years of age which is the recommendation. The mean age of referral was 13.7years. Conclusion: The timing of referral with regards to impacted palatal canines was significantly delayed and interventions are necessary to improve in reaching the gold standard.