Background: The upper permanent canine is the tooth with the second highest incidence of impaction after the third molar. The present study was conducted to evaluate post treatment status of palatally impacted canines treated by open technique with free eruption and closed flap technique. Material and methods: A total 50 patients with a newly diagnosed unilateral palatally impacted maxillary canine were selected to participate in this study divided into 2 groups i.e. Group 1 was palatally impacted canines treated by open technique with free eruption and Group 2 was palatally impacted canines treated by closed flap technique. The intraoral examination included the visual assessment of the color and the shape of the crown of the previously impacted canine, the inclination and the position in the dental arch of the previously impacted canine, its function (occlusal contacts). Statistical analysis was performed using the statistical software package SPSS 20.0 for Windows. The difference was considered to be statistically significant when P<0.05. Results: In the present study, in 16%, a slightly darker color of the previously impacted canine was observed in group 1 whereas in group 2 8% was observed. In group 1 8% teeth showed cusps with signs of wear whereas in group 2 20% teeth were seen. In group 1, normal tooth position was seen in 60% teeth whereas in group 2, it was 76%. In group 1, normal inclination was seen in 44% teeth whereas in group 2 it was 68%. During the lateral mandibular excursions, in group 1canine protection was observed in 72% whereas in group 2 it was observed in 60%. During the anterior mandibular excursions, normal guidance was detected in 96% of the cases in group 1, whereas in group 2 it was 92%. Conclusion: The present study concluded that the posttreatment status of palatally impacted canines after the surgical-orthodontic treatment did not differ significantly between the groups of the open and the closed surgical method.

surgical-orthodontic treatment, impacted canines, posttreatment.