Which One of Two Ectopic Mandibular Canines will erupt to a Normal Position in the Dental Arch

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate 4 cases with bi-lateral ectopic mandibular canines and to demonstrate in each case which one of the two canines erupted to a normal position in the dental arch. The canines are observed from Orthopantomograms from 4 children (aged 8-13 years of age) in the mixed dentitions stages. Of these children 2 were males and 2 were females. From each child there was between 3-5 Orthopantomograms. These were observed over 3-4 years period. In each of the 4 cases with bi-lateral ectopia of the mandibular canines the one mandibular canine erupted into a normal position, while the other one declined into a horizontal position during the mixed dentition period. These 4 cases demonstrated that the inclination of the canines were important to observe and diagnose from the initial stage (first ortopantomogram). The cases presented, demonstrated that the unsuccessfully erupted canines ending in a horizontal position, were the canines which inclined slightly more that the contra lateral canine already from the initial stage.