Restorative alternatives for the treatment of an impacted canine: surgical and prosthetic considerations

Impaction occurs more frequently with maxillary canines than with any other tooth except maxillary third molars. For functional and aesthetic purposes, impaction must be treated in a manner that facilitates recreation of the anatomical structures in the canine region. The general treatment of choice is surgical and orthodontic restoration of the impacted canine. When this protocol is impossible due to anatomical limitations or the patient's indications, alternative treatments are necessary. The authors introduce two case presentations in which impacted maxillary canine teeth were restored with alternatives to orthodontic therapy.