When it Comes to Severe Impactions, Timing is Everything

Treatment of impacted teeth is difficult and sometimes fails due to many factors which are not present in routine orthodontics. The tooth is not visible therefore the positional diagnosis is sometimes challenging, there is a need for surgery and complicated mechanotherapy and an increased risk for damage to the other teeth. The literature is brimming with studies or descriptive reports on simple to moderate cases of canine impaction, but scarcer regarding the management of the severe canine cases, or other impacted teeth. A severe impaction has dental implications on the eruption and position of the adjacent teeth, often leading to the development of an overall malocclusion. Moreover, it may have skeletal implications due to the impaired alveolar bone growth around the unerupted tooth. The root of the impacted tooth is also affected due to its development in restricted conditions. Timing of diagnosis and intervention is a key success factor in treatment of severe impactions with minimal side effects on the impacted tooth, dentition and jaw growth.