Abstract
We report 2 cases in which orthodontic force did not induce tooth movement of submerged maxillary central incisors. A diagnosis of ankylosis was made in both and we utilized a subluxation procedure for the submerged incisors, which were pulled immediately after the procedure. In one of the cases, subluxation was performed in a single procedure, while that was done twice with a 1-month interval in the other. In both cases, slight tooth movement appeared after subluxation and the incisors underwent re-ankylosis soon thereafter. In the case with 2 separate procedures for subluxation, periapical inflammation was noted and treatment was performed for an infected root canal. After pulling, a small part of the tooth crown was covered with composite resin. At 2 years 9 months after subluxation, external root resorption was extremely advanced and the tooth was extracted. In the other case that underwent subluxation in a single procedure, slight external resorption in the cervical area of the root was seen in an examination peformed 2 years 8 months later.It is important to obtained informed consent which performing subluxation of an ankylosed incisor does not necessarily lead to a good result. The present cases did not have anamnesis from trauma to the permanent incisors, though that related to trauma to and/or extraction of prospective primary incisors can occur. It is also considered that trauma to and/or extraction of a prospective primary incisor can cause damage to permanent tooth germ and root peripheral tissues, which may be factors related to ankylosis of a proceeding permanent incisor.
