Decision-making for Canine Exposure: Literature Review and Suggestion of a Clinical Algorithm

The maxillary canines rank second after the third molars in terms of the frequency of impaction. The permanent canine teeth play a fundamental role in a functional occlusion and a balanced smile. This study aimed to review the literature and introduce clinical guidelines for surgical canine exposure techniques. The choice of treatment is influenced by several fac-tors such as canine location, severity of impaction, patient’s age, and other considerations. There are three treatment op-tions, namely observation, exposure and extraction. Based on the location of the impacted canine, the amount of keratinized gingiva and distance from the gingival margin, a flow diagram is introduced for decision-making to choose an appropriate surgical technique.