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Εvaluation of a treatment protocol for unerupted maxillary central incisors: retrospective clinical study of 46 children

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Abstract

Aim

To evaluate the clinical outcome of a treatment protocol performed in children with unerupted permanent maxillary central incisors, including surgical removal of any related obstruction and traction initiation in one stage, under fully repositioned flap, combined with pre- and post-operative orthodontics for space creation and final alignment.

Methods

Forty-six patients aged 7.3–12.7 years (mean = 9.44 ± 1.36) having 54 impacted maxillary central incisors were reviewed. The study group included 37 patients fully treated by us and nine referrals with eruption failure of impacted incisors following previous surgical removal of various obstructions. Detailed patient’s clinical and radiographic data were recorded.

Results

Aetiology of unerupted incisors included 9 patients with odontomas, 24 with supernumerary teeth, 1 with skeletal lack of space, 1 with a dentigerous cyst, 4 with dilaceration, 1 with severe incisor MIH, 5 with luxation injuries to primary predecessors and 1 with coexisting dilaceration and odontoma. The total treatment time following the standardised protocol ranged from 5 to 21 months (mean 9.88 ± 3.10), while the time needed using different approaches (no pre-operative orthodontics or obstruction removal and then to wait over an assessment period) ranged from 12 to 18 months (mean 15 ± 2.12) and 17 to 30 months (mean 23.73 ± 5.14), respectively (p < 0.05). The time needed for full alignment depended on the inclination, the height of the impacted tooth (p = 0.001) and the patient’s age (p = 0.002). Additionally, the absence of pre-operative orthodontics for space creation dramatically increased treatment time (p = 0.018). In contrast, the maturity of the impacted tooth and the developmental stage of the anterior teeth did not affect treatment time. Finally, when the location of the impacted tooth and the space availability allowed waiting for spontaneous eruption, treatment time was not statistically different from that of the main treatment protocol (p = 0.545).

Conclusions

The studied treatment protocol appears ideal for successful results and minimum treatment time. Space creation followed by surgical removal of any obstruction together with orthodontic traction initiation produces excellent results, while waiting for spontaneous eruption is indicated only in cases of favourable patient’s age and tooth location. Treatment initiation with operation in the absence of the required eruption space is not recommended, whereas in unfavourable cases obstruction removal without simultaneous orthodontic traction increases dramatically the total treatment time and requires an unnecessary second operation for traction.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Mrs Eirini Stamatopoulou, MSc, Biostatistician, for performing the statistical analyses. Dr K. Chatzidimitriou is a Hellenic State Scholarships Foundation scholar.

Ethical standard

The authors state that the study has been performed in accordance with the ethical standards laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments. Also, the presented patients and their parents had given their informed consent prior to the inclusion in the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Private Paediatric Dental Clinic, 2 Papadiamantopoulou Street, 11528, Athens, Greece

    N. N. Lygidakis, K. Chatzidimitriou, N. Theologie-Lygidakis & N. A. Lygidakis

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  1. N. N. Lygidakis
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  2. K. Chatzidimitriou
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  3. N. Theologie-Lygidakis
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  4. N. A. Lygidakis
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Correspondence to N. A. Lygidakis.

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Lygidakis, N.N., Chatzidimitriou, K., Theologie-Lygidakis, N. et al. Εvaluation of a treatment protocol for unerupted maxillary central incisors: retrospective clinical study of 46 children. Eur Arch Paediatr Dent 16, 153–164 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40368-014-0150-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40368-014-0150-z

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