Multidisciplinary approach to restore esthetics and function in a young patient with three consecutive impacted teeth: a case report with 18-month follow-up

This case report describes the orthodontic treatment of an 11-year-old patient with three maxillary impacted teeth on the right side. Cone-beam computed tomography showed that these teeth were close together, with the lateral incisor in a lower position, followed by the central incisor, and the canine in a more apical position. Treatment included applying traction to these teeth. A transpalatal arch was used as an anchorage device, and surgical exposure of the lateral incisor was performed for traction with an elastic chain toward the hook welded to the 0.017 × 0.025-inch steel segmented arch. Subsequently, the central incisor was surgically exposed, elastic chains were used, along with a 0.016-inch steel arch with a box loop for correcting the tooth position. The canine spontaneously began to erupt, and a 0.017 × 0.025-inch TMA segmented arch with boot loop was used to control rotation and torque of the canine during its distalization. Once these three teeth were in the arch, treatment was finished in the usual manner. For esthetic improvement, gingivoplasty was performed in the maxillary arch. Eighteen-month follow-up showed that orthodontic treatment allowed preservation of the natural teeth, the contour of gingival support, and avoidance of prosthetic rehabilitation, reestablishing the patient's esthetics and function, with satisfactory stability.