Inversely impacted maxillary central incisor: three case reports and literature review

Abstract

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics, diagnosis and therapeutic methods of inversely impacted maxillary central incisor cases, further to provide reference for clinical work. Methods The clinical manifestations, imaging manifestations, therapeutic methods and therapeutic effects of three cases of the inversely impacted maxillary central incisor which were collected from 2017 to 2019 in the Affiliated Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Southern Medical University were retrospectively analyzed and related literature was reviewed. Results The main clinical manifestations of the three cases were the loss of unilateral maxillary central incisor, with the adjacent teeth tilted and the edentulous space reduced. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) showed that the three cases were labial impacted teeth. In one case, the apical foramen of the impacted tooth was closed, in the other two cases, the root of the impacted teeth developed to the 1/2 ~ 1/3 of the root tip. The crown-root ratios of the impacted teeth were≥1∶1 and the root curves were at the 1/2 ~ 1/3 of the root tip. Surgical exposure combined with orthodontic traction were used in the three cases. The teeth of the three cases were moved into arches without loosening of the teeth and root resorption, establishing good occlusal relationship. Conclusions The treatment of the inversely impacted maxillary central incisor was difficult. Doctors ought to master the clinical characteristics and therapeutic principle, paying attention to the treatment timing of these cases, in order to improve the preserving rate of the inversely impacted maxillary central incisor. Key words: Tooth, impacted; Incisor; Orthodontics; Tooth, inversion