Orthodontists are good at their job and the
predictability for the success of treatment and “the great smile” is
enormously high. In general, the practitioner deals with teeth that have
already erupted into the mouth and, therefore, have normal attachment to the
alveolar bone.
All is well, until it comes to an impacted tooth. This
anomaly has a wide range of causes and with each comes the appropriate
treatment modality, although the chances of success in many of these scenarios
may drop significantly. Chances drop even more, when unnecessarily aggressive
surgical treatment is performed to expose them, or when pulled in the wrong
direction! Certain pathological processes, such as ankylosis or invasive
cervical root resorption, may lie in wait for the unsuspecting orthodontist.
Then there is always the possibility that the patient may unintentionally cause
the treatment to founder by not complying with instructions regarding homecare.
This website is presented as a service to orthodontists,
dentists with an interest in orthodontics, patients undergoing treatment for an
impacted tooth and the parents who require information on the various aspects
of the problem and to offer options in treatment of difficult cases. One of its
most important functions is troubleshooting cases in which treatment is heading
for failure.
Cleidocranial dysplasia is a rare syndrome which is
characterized by the impaction of a large number of teeth. Few practitioners have ever seen a case and
treatment is complex and difficult – not for the beginner! Questions are
invited. Opinions and advice are evidence based where relevant and given on the
basis of very wide-ranging proven clinical experience of similar cases.
Is the orthodontic treatment of impacted teeth the only item dealt with in this site? No, but it is probably the most authoritative. Other areas in which this site may be of special value include:
1. help in deciding what kind of surgical exposure would be suitable in a given case
2. the delivery of orthodontic treatment to Special Needs patients
Strictly, the whole range of clinical orthodontics is up for discussion to anyone who would like to log on to the site. Where we can help, we will!
