Impacted mandibular canine traction after odontoma surgery for subsequent malocclusion correction: case report

Abstract

Many retained canines have a well-developed pericoronal follicle, which radiographically is seen as a radiolucent area around the dental crown. It is believed that such a follicle can generate odontogenic cysts or tumors. When free eruption does not occur and the tooth does not erupt after surgical exposure, the aid of orthodontic traction is necessary for its correct positioning in the arch. The aim of this study was to report a clinical case of orthodontic traction of an impacted mandibular canine due to the presence of a compound odontoma, to perform the malocclusion correction. This paper presents a clinical case of an 11-year-old female patient diagnosed with odontoma that prevented the eruption of the impacted lower left canine. Surgical access was performed to remove the odontoma, followed by gluing hooks for orthodontic traction anchored to a rigid plate. After the successful traction of the impacted tooth, the inverted lathe appliance was planned to correct the anterior crossbite, performing ¼ turn activations every 20 days until the arch was completely uncrossed. The use of orthodontic appliances both for traction of impacted teeth and for the correction of malocclusion has many successful reports in the literature, provided they are diagnosed and treated early so as not to worsen the treatment prognosis.