CONSERVATIVE TREATMENT OF A UPPER CENTRAL INCISOR WITH POOR PROGNOSIS

Lee, Doo-Young; Kim,, Seunghye; Choi, Hyung-Jun; Choi, Byung-Jai; Lee, Jae-Ho

Journal of the Korean Academy of Pediatric Dentistry 2010;37(3):368-373.
Published online August 31, 2010.

CONSERVATIVE TREATMENT OF A UPPER CENTRAL INCISOR WITH POOR PROGNOSIS

Doo-Young Lee¹, Seunghye Kim,², Hyung-Jun Choi², Byung-Jai Choi², Jae-Ho Lee²

¹Department of Pediatric Dentistry,College of Dentistry, Yonsei University
²Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Oral Science Research Center, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University

예후가 불량한 상악 중절치의 유지

이두영¹, 김승혜², 최형준², 최병재², 이제호²

¹연세대학교 치과대학 소아치과학교실
²연세대학교 치과대학 소아치과학교실 및 구강과학연구소

Correspondence: Jae-Ho Lee, Tel: 02-2228-3173, Email: leejh@yuhs.ac

Received: 31 March 2010 • Accepted: 13 July 2010

Abstract

he incisors function as instruments for biting and cutting food during mastication. They also support the lips and face and maintain vertical dimension. In addition, they contribute to overall normal arch appearance. They play important role during the articulation of speech and assist in guiding jaw closure. Extraction and space maintenance are the most common treatment for a tooth with poor prognosis. However, in the mixed dentition, extraction of the upper permanent incisors results in many complications, such as resorption of alveolar bone, poor esthetics, pronunciation, and mastication. Considering these various roles of incisors in oral cavity, approach for traumatized incisors, even the ones with poor prognosis, should be considered first prior to simple extraction. The dentist must take into account the age of the patient, growth potential, occlusion, oral hygiene status, economic status and motivation towards dental health in addition to patient compliance. In this case, although the prognosis was predicted to be unfavorable due to short root and mobility, we could save the central incisor using conservative treatment, reposition by orthodontic appliance instead of extraction.

Key Words: Rotated teeth, Upper central incisor, Root resorption