CONSERVATIVE TREATMENT OF A UPPER CENTRAL INCISOR WITH POOR PROGNOSIS

The incisors function as instruments for biting and cutting food during mastication. They also support the lips and face and maintain vertical dimension. In addition, they contribute to overall normal arch appearance. They play important role during the articulation of speech and assist in guiding jaw closure. Extraction and space maintenance are the most common treatment for a tooth with poor prognosis. However, in the mixed dentition, extraction of the upper permanent incisors results in many complications, such as resorption of alveolar bone, poor esthetics, pronunciation, and mastication. Considering these various roles of incisors in oral cavity, approach for traumatized incisors, even the ones with poor prognosis, should be considered first prior to simple extraction. The dentist must take into account the age of the patient, growth potential, occlusion, oral hygiene status, economic status and motivation towards dental health in addition to patient compliance. In this case, although the prognosis was predicted to be unfavorable due to short root and mobility, we could save the central incisor using conservative treatment, reposition by orthodontic appliance instead of extractionope