2009 Volume 19 Issue 3 Pages 157-163
Single-tooth alveolar osteotomy followed by distraction osteogenesis was applied to move an infrapositional ankylosed tooth to the normal position. A maxillary right canine of a 16-year-old female patient was at 6 mm infraposition compared with the maxillary left canine. Single-tooth alveolar osteotomy was performed under general anesthesia. After suturing the wound, an extrawound distraction device was attached to the crown of the ankylosed canine. The distance of movement was 7 mm. After the distraction movement, the fragment was fixed with wires and resin. The consolidation period was 2 months. During the treatment period, 2 complications associated with the roots occurred: injury of the root of the neighboring tooth during osteotomy and progressive inflammatory root resorption of the ankylosed tooth. The root fragments of the neighboring tooth fused spontaneously and the tooth did not show any symptoms of root resorption. The progressive inflammatory root resorption, which occurred at the cervical portion, was treated by removing the granulation in the resorption-lacuna and restoration with composite resin. It was suggested that root injury under sterile conditions probably promoted periodontal healing. Careful postoperative observation was necessary to detect and promptly treat the progressive inflammatory root resorption.
