Introduction: The aim of the present study was to assess the relation between the eruption of the permanent maxillary canine and individual skeletal maturity.
Materials and Methods: A sample of 152 subjects (63 males and 89 females) with erupting permanent maxillary canines was analyzed. On the lateral cephalograms the individual stage of cervical vertebral maturation (CVM) was assessed. Following this analysis the subjects were divided into prepeak (CS1 and CS2), peak (CS3 and CS4), and postpeak (CS5 and CS6) groups. Skeletal relationships in the sagittal and vertical planes were evaluated, and relationships to timing of canine eruption were tested statistically.
Results: The prepeak group comprised 86 subjects, the peak group 66 subjects, and the postpeak group 0 subjects. The differences in prevalence rates between either prepeak or peak groups and postpeak group were statistically significant (p<0.001). The prevalence rate for hyperdivergent subjects showing eruption of the permanent maxillary canine in the prepeak group (37.2%) was significantly higher than in the reference orthodontic population (21%).
Conclusions: The eruption of the permanent maxillary canine can occur at any stage in skeletal maturation before the end the pubertal growth spurt (CS1 through CS4). Hyperdivergency is significantly associated with prepubertal canine eruption.