Alternative Methods of Repositioning Impacted Maxillary Canines in the Dental Arch—En Bloc Autotransplantation of a Tooth

Abstract

ObjectivesPermanent anterior tooth impaction constitutes an esthetic and medical challenge. The treatment of choice is orthodontic-surgical alignment of the impacted tooth into the arch. The procedure often proves to be unattainable due to the impacted tooth’s unfavorable position in relation to the adjacent teeth; therefore, the decision to proceed with it can cause severe and irreversible complications in the form of adjacent tooth resorption or occlusal plane derangement. We present a new treatment modality to be used for cases of impacted canines, which consists of en bloc autotransplantation of a fully impacted tooth to the correct position in the dental arch. Materials and MethodsOur study recruited patients with an impacted anterior maxillary canine tooth and an unfavorable prognosis due to its position in the arch after previous unsuccessful conventional orthodontic-surgical treatment. After orthodontic preparation, the problematic tooth was excised en bloc with adjacent bone and positioned correctly in the dental arch. ResultsThe transplanted teeth remained alive and achieved proper stability with physiological mobility. ConclusionsAutotransplantation of an impacted, live, permanent tooth en bloc with adjacent bone is a new treatment modality with efficacy confirmed by short-term follow-up. It is the treatment of choice in cases where it is impossible to reposition a canine tooth with an orthodontic appliance. In view of the gathered data, adequate assessment and qualification of patients was crucial and allowed for a reduction in complications after unsuccessful orthodontic-surgical repositioning of impacted teeth.