Use of a cantilever for orthodontic treatment of the impacted incisor in a horizontal position

Introduction: The lack of a permanent incisor not only generates an adverse effect on facial aesthetics but also alters its function, especially the incisor guidance. Upper incisors can suffer mechanical blockage or change in their eruption due to a supernumerary tooth, a blow or another factor. The treatment of choice is orthodontic-surgical. The prognosis depends on the age, tooth position, morphology, size, root maturation and traction method. Knowing the use of an orthodontic appliance, which is easy to handle and can be used from an early age, will be of valuable contribution. Objective: To show the successful use of a cantilever to enable orthodontic traction of an impacted incisor in a horizontal position. Case presentation: Eight-year-old patient with class I malocclusion, specimen 2.1 retained in a horizontal position, presence of supernumerary tooth and persistence of specimen 6.1. Extraction of the supernumerary, release of specimen 2.1 and orthodontic traction is chosen. A buccal cantilever made of a 0.020" round steel arch with two circles at each end was used to provide elasticity and anchoring. The force used was 70 g. Six months after, the occlusion plane was reached. Brackets and tubes were cemented and the sequence of arches was continued until the 0.021"x0.025" steel arch was reached in 11 months. An optimal final position is obtained, favoring root formation and apical closure. Conclusions: The use of the cantilever for orthodontic treatment of impacted permanent incisors in a horizontal position proved to be successful as well as easy to manipulate and control.