Case report: an unorthodox orthodontic retainer

This case report describes the management of a patient who presented with an interdental eyelet-style retainer placed around maxillary central incisors ten years ago. At that time, the patient underwent orthodontic treatment to close a large maxillary midline diastema. The maxillary central incisors were then crowned to close the small residual midline diastema remaining after the orthodontic treatment. The wire retainer was apparently placed to prevent the diastema from reopening. The patient sought treatment ten years later when pain from necrotic pulps in these central incisors became unbearable.