Light-force technique for the early treatment of an ectopic tooth

Free crown tipping can be useful when teeth do not erupt in their physiologic sequence and a real intraosseous migration and eruption of a single tooth into a distant ectopic position can be observed. This article presents a case of an ectopic mandibular lateral incisor treated early, with the light-force technique and uncontrolled forces, and finished with the bidimensional edgewise appliance. A Caucasian female patient, 10 years 10 months of age, had a mandibular left lateral incisor displacement, with the lateral incisor crown positioned mesial to left second primary molar. An early treatment was planned to correct the mandibular left lateral incisor displacement and to allow proper eruption of the mandibular left canine and first premolar. A second phase of treatment, in permanent dentition, was planned for the dental Class II subdivision on the right and deep bite correction. Phase 1 treatment was completed after 10 months; phase 2 treatment was initiated in the permanent dentition and lasted 18 months. Treatment achieved the following outcomes: (1) mandibular lateral incisor in corrected position; (2) full canine and molar Class I relationship; (3) overjet and overbite within the normal limits; (4) symmetric arches; and (5) a balanced profile. The radiograph evaluation revealed good root parallelism and mandibular left lateral incisor light root resorption. The light-force technique is not only a possible alternative but the ideal appliance for treatment in the mixed dentition, when the permanent teeth should be controlled.