Incidence and effects of genetic factors on canine impaction in an isolated Jewish population

IntroductionThe etiology of palatal canine impaction is multifactorial and includes a genetic contribution. The aim of this study was to find the incidence and effects of genetic factors on palatally impacted canines in a genetically isolated community of ultraorthodox Hassidic Jews of Ashkenazi decent.MethodsFor this study, we retrospectively evaluated 1000 charts of Hassidic Jewish patients. Their distribution was 58% female and 42% male, with a mean age of 14 years.ResultsFrom those patients, 49 (4.9%) were determined to have canine impaction. Of these 49, 69.4% had unilateral palatal impaction, 26.5% had bilateral palatal impaction, and 4.1% had unilateral labial impaction. The z-test of proportion showed that female patients have a greater percentage than males for unilateral palatal impaction (P <0.01) with left-side dominance (P <0.01).ConclusionsOur results imply that genetics plays a significant role in maxillary canine palatal impaction. A genetically isolated Hassidic Jewish community can be a useful group to study the effects of genetic factors on various dental anomalies, including palatally displaced canines.