Swinging replantation: A possible protocol for the management of inverted impacted upper central incisor tooth

Abstract

Introduction: Inverted tooth impaction is a rare occurrence. Third molar impaction is the most extensively studied, and only eight cases of inverted third molars have been reported in a literature search of 40 years from 1973 to 2013. In a study, 43.4% of the premaxillary supernumeraries were inverted and 21.1% were transversely oriented, while occasional inverted central incisors have been mentioned in the literature. Severe dilaceration makes the management of this case a big challenge. The case of an 8-year-old boy with an inverted, rotated, and impacted upper left central incisor obstructed by an odontome is presented here. Under local anesthesia, the odontome was excised; the inverted tooth was swung and repositioned. The patient experienced uneventful healing, and with 30 months follow-up, progressive tooth eruption has been observed. Vitality test is positive, while radiologically there was no sign of resorption. Swinging replantation is a protocol that has been used for the management of an inverted, rotated, and impacted central incisor. Open root apex is an important factor in the selection of the method. The minimal periodontal damage prevents inflammatory and replacement resorption. With some clear advantages over options like orthodontic and prosthetic replacement, it could be a method to be considered in the management of severely dilacerated central incisors. The clinical significance is that even though management of a severely malpositioned tooth has always been a big challenge in dental practice, requiring extraction and prosthodontic replacement, swinging replantation provides a possible protocol of tooth retention, i.e., less expensive and associated with fewer hospital visits.