Psychological responses to treatment of impacted canines in young patients: a randomized clinical study

BACKGROUND: Implementing a psychosomatic approach to the diagnosis and treatment of patients with malocclusion is critical in dentistry. AIM: This study aimed to assess psychological responses to various treatment methods for impacted canines in young patients using the Psycho-Sensory-Anatomical-Functional Maladjustment Syndrome questionnaire. METHODS: The study included 44 patients (17 males and 27 females) with impacted maxillary canines aged 18–44 years. Based on treatment method, the patients were divided into two groups: group 1 (main group), spontaneous eruption; and group 2 (comparison group), closed eruption. The mean age of the patients in groups 1 and 2 was 27.6 ± 0.18 years and 26.2 ± 0.11 years, respectively. The control group comprised 15 age-matched individuals (7 males and 8 females) without malocclusion and psychosomatic disorders who had not received previous orthodontic treatment. Patients’ self-perception of disease was evaluated using an analog scale for self-assessment of the severity of individual symptoms. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistica 7.0 and the Pearson’s chi-squared test for nonparametric data. The significance level was set at p ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: Patients in the closed eruption group experienced discomfort for 9 months longer due to fixed appliances. This negatively affected their adaptation to daily life (S = 10.27 conventional units) compared to patients in the spontaneous eruption group (S = 6.27 conventional units) (p = 0.0024). Furthermore, these findings were associated with prolonged active orthodontic treatment (p = 0.0013). CONCLUSION: Impacted canine treatment by spontaneous eruption provides a more positive self-perception of health over a longer period.