ORTHODONTIC PRETREATMENT PRIOR TO AUTOTRANSPLANTATION OF PALATALLY IMPACTED MAXILLARY CANINES - CASE-REPORTS ON A NEW APPROACH

Impacted maxillary canines in oblique horizontal positions may make or thodontic appliance treatment hazardous or impossible. Autotransplanta tion may be considered but the removal of the canine is often difficul t and since atraumatic removal of the transplant is essential, autotra nsplantation is then impossible. A new possibility is orthodontic pre- treatment with distal and vertical traction of the impacted maxillary canine to bring the maxillary canine to a more favourable position and facilitate surgical removal and autotransplantation. Eight canines we re surgically exposed and pre-treated prior to autotransplantation. Of 21 autotransplantations of maxillary canines, 20 were successful, amo ng them all eight pre-treated cases. The orthodontic and surgical tech nique is described and illustrated in two case reports.