Lingual Appliances, Implants and Impacted Teeth

This chapter provides the information of lingual appliances, implants and impacted teeth. There are four major drawbacks to the ortho-surgical approach for resolution of impacted teeth in adults, namely prognosis, duration of treatment, the need to wear orthodontic appliances and anchorage. The chapter presents the context of impacted canines vis-à-vis the lingual appliance, and differences in treatment approach engendered by the use of lingual appliances. The space achieved must then be maintained until the impacted tooth has been initially aligned in the arch. With lingual appliances the distance to the lingual archwire is noticeably short and direct traction is rarely appropriate, except in the early eruption phase of the traction. Finishing procedures with lingual appliances are like those with labial appliances. One of the most important principles of the mechanotherapy in the treatment of cases with impacted canines is to build up a reliable anchorage unit.