Continued root development of a surgically repositioned human incisor tooth germ

Abstract

Conventional orthodontic traction may not be the treatment of choice in cases of inverted impaction of a maxillary incisor, especially when located near the alveolar crest. Poor prognosis is associated with the limited space for proper root development, resulting in a root too short for normal function and/or a severely dilacerated root interrupting the force-induced positioning. The surgical repositioning of ectopic impacted toothgerm before the development of root could be a valuable alternative choice of treatment before the decision of extraction. In this case report, an impacted immature incisor toothgerm in complete inversion was surgically repositioned using a closed-flap technique in a boy who was 6 years 8 months old. Continued root formation and spontaneous eruption were observed after surgery over the 51-month follow-up period, without pulpal or periodontal complications.