Traumatic loss of a maxillary central incisor treated with nonextraction orthodontics

This case report describes the orthodontic treatment of a girl who lost her maxillary left central incisor from trauma. The patient had a concave profile, a Class I molar relationship on the right side and a Class II molar relationship on the left side, with a slight maxillary retrusion, an anterior edge-to-edge bite, and a posterior crossbite. Therefore, the treatment consisted of rapid palatal expansion to widen the maxilla in a transverse direction along with reverse headgear to improve the incisor relationship. The crown of the left canine was modified to resemble the left lateral incisor, and a porcelain veneer was placed to make the left lateral incisor resemble the left central incisor. This case report illustrates how orthodontics alone can be used to treat a missing central incisor, without a bridge or an implant.