Impacted maxillary incisors: Causes, Diagnosis and Management

Abstract

When the incisors fail to erupt at the normal time, it becomes duty of a clinician to determine the cause and formulate an appropriate treatment plan. Impaction of maxillary permanent incisor is not a frequently case in dental practice, but its treatment is challenging because of its importance to facial esthetics. Although the impaction of a permanent tooth is rarely diagnosed during the mixed dentition period, an impacted central incisor is usually diagnosed accurately when there is delay in the eruption of the tooth. Early diagnosis is very important and interceptive orthodontic treatment could not only improve skeletal mal relationship and eliminate functional interferences, but also may correct disturbances during the eruption. This paper describes the causes, early diagnosis and the orthodontic treatment required in the management of impacted maxillary canines.