A clinical comparison of the rate of maxillary canine retraction into healed and recent extraction sites--a pilot study.

The rate of movement of the maxillary canines into the healed or recent extraction alveolus of the first premolar was measured in 22 patients aged 10-27 years. On one side of the dental arch, the first premolar was extracted. After a median time of 86 days, the contralateral first premolar was extracted and the distalization of both canines started using Gjessing canine retraction springs. The experiment was ended when one of the two canines had been sufficiently distalized. Recordings of the positions of the canines at the beginning of the study, at the start of the distalization and at the end were made from dental casts and standardized intraoral radiographs. The canine on the recent extraction side moved faster than that on the healed side, but also tipped somewhat more. The reasons for the increased tipping and the faster movement are discussed.