Surgical derotation: an evidence-based approach to prevent rotational relapse of severely rotated maxillary anterior...

Surgical derotation is a technique in which a severely rotated tooth is surgically derotated inside the socket to its desired position. This procedure is typically performed on maxillary anterior teeth with immature root apices. It is a simple and cost-effective treatment modality compared to a conventional orthodontic procedure with immediate esthetic improvement. This article documents four cases, where severely rotated maxillary central incisor/s are surgically derotated and followed up both clinically and radiographically for a minimum period of 18 months with relatively successful outcomes. Conclusion: Surgical derotation can be a viable alternative to the conventional orthodontic derotation technique for severely rotated maxillary anterior teeth with open apex. Judicial selection of cases with proper planning, handled by an efficient clinician, is of paramount importance.