Peridontal status following surgical-orthodontic alignment of impacted teeth

Treatment of impacted teeth is often a combination between oral surgery and orthodontics. This study evaluates the gingival condition of impacted teeth after surgical-orthodontic treatment, where two different surgical methods were used. In one group (n = 11) the teeth were radically exposed and orthodontically moved to their final position. In the other group (n = 11) the teeth were partially exposed by raising a mucoperiosteal flap. Orthodontic traction was then applied; whereafter the flap was sutured back into place. The results showed that one of the teeth in the partial exposure group and seven in the radical exposure group showed loss of attachment. This study indicates that a combination of mucoperiosteal flap technique and applied orthodontic traction is prefered to minimize the loss of attachment in cases of displaced impacted teeth.