Impacted Maxillary Canine with Curved Apex: Three-Dimensional Guided Protocol for Autotransplantation

Area of Science:

• Oral surgery
• Dental implantology
• 3D printing in dentistry

Background:

• Maxillary canines are vital for dental aesthetics, arch form, and occlusion.
• Autotransplantation is an alternative when surgical exposure or patient preference precludes other treatments.
• Impacted maxillary canines with curved apices present unique surgical challenges.

Observation:

• A 42-year-old patient presented with pain and mobility in a maxillary left primary canine.
• A novel technique utilized 3D-printed templates, adapted from guided implant surgery, for autotransplantation.
• The templates guided osteotomy, apicoectomy, and recipient site preparation for precise canine transplantation.

Findings:

• The 3D-printed guides enabled accurate apex removal and atraumatic extraction of the impacted canine.
• Post-operative follow-up at 2 years revealed complete palatal defect regeneration and bone remodeling around the transplanted canine.
• The digitally planned procedure facilitated complex surgical execution and enhanced treatment predictability.

Implications:

• Digitally planned procedures, including 3D-printed guides, can simplify complex autotransplantations.
• This approach reduces chair time and patient morbidity.
• The use of 3D templates increases the predictability and success rate of maxillary canine autotransplantation.