Trattamento ortodontico-chirurgico di canini mascellari inclusi. Caso clinico | [Surgical-orthodontic management of impacted maxillary canines. A case report ]

Objectives: Combined surgical-orthodontic treatment of impacted maxillary canines has advanced significantly in recent years, regarding management of both hard and soft tissues and forces of traction. The aim of this report is to describe a combined surgical-orthodontic approach used to treat an impacted maxillary canine and to evaluate the functional and esthetic results after 5 years of follow-up. Materials and methods: A 13-year-old boy was seen in the Operative Unit of Orthodontics of Policlinico Tor Vergata in Rome. Radiographic images showed intraosseous impaction of tooth no. 2.3 in a setting of late mixed dentition, and the patient was scheduled for the combined surgical-orthodontic treatment. Results: Five years after the combined treatment, the patient presented good occlusal stability. The maxillary canine that had been orthodontically repositioned showed keratinized mucosa of adequate width on the facial side with a margin that followed the course of the enamel-cement junction. Bleeding was absent on probing, the periodontal pocket depth was <4 mm, and there was no radiographically evident bone loss. Conclusions: The combined surgical-orthodontic technique used in this case (closed eruption towards the center of the alveolar ridge associated with conservative periodontal surgery, the acid-etch technique, and controlled orthodontic traction) simulates physiological tooth eruption and results in proper alignment with good periodontal results. It should thus be regarded as the treatment of choice for impacted teeth whose eruption is not precluded by the position of the tooth and/or the presence of ankylosis