Impacted maxillary canine on the position of the central incisor : surgical-orthodontic repositioning

The aim of this article is to describe a case of a young orthodontic patient in which an impacted maxillary canine was repositioned in the central incisor position. A severe resorption of the root of the central right maxillary incisor by ectopic eruption of the impacted right maxillary canine is described. The canine was repositioned in the incisor’s position to avoid resorption of the roots of the adjacent teeth during the disinclusion. The central incisor was extracted and the canine was extruded by a closed eruption technique. When the canine eruption was complete, the tip, the torque and the morphology of the canine were modified in order to make it look like an incisor. Nowadays the therapy with dental implants is the best choice, if the position of impacted teeth is difficult to reach. This case report describes a successful management of an impacted upper right canine aligned in the upper right central incisor position. Accurate diagnosis, conservative management of the soft tissues, anchorage unit and the direction of the orthodontic traction are important factors for the success treatment