A CASE OF BILATERAL IMPACTION OF MAXILLARY INCISORS IN AN INTELLECTUALLY CHALLENGED PATIENT

Maxillary incisors usually erupt in the early mixed dentition stage but eruption anomalies can arise and are frequently caused by local factors. A failure of eruption affects the developing occlusion and has the potential to influence the psychological development of the child. Furthermore, impaction of frontal teeth can result in esthetic, functional and phonetic problems in addition to causing root resorption and chronic or acute infections. As general guidelines of managing the delayed eruption or impaction of these teeth, it is recommended for the clinician to ensure the existence of enough space in the dental arch and remove any impediment in the path of eruption. In addition to this, the eruption should further be aided through surgical exposure, with or without subsequent orthodontic traction. In order to appoint the appropriate treatment plan, various factors – such as patient age, medical history, associated systemic diseases or conditions, compliance, etiology and position of the un-erupted tooth, can influence the decision-making process,. Thorough clinical appraisal associated to appropriate paraclinical investigation is a prerequisite, but also an interdisciplinary approach is advised, in order to enhance the treatment outcome.