used (1055HFig. 15.26 (b)) the soft tissues are relocated in their original position and
sutured. A magnet with the opposite polarity is incorporated within a removable
appliance and this is placed over the wound to apply the magnetic force.
Surgical anchorage
Occasionally there is insufficient erupted dentition to allow orthodontic anchorage.
This is especially the case for the patient with hypodontia (1056HChapter 13). Extraoral
anchorage may be employed in such cases. Another technique is to provide anchorage
by the provision of implants. Standard dental implants are not normally used in
children as they act as ankylosed teeth and may disturb the growth of the jaws (see
below). Orthodontic implants, however, may be placed, for example, in the midline of
the palate (1057HFig. 15.27). Orthodontic appliances can then be attached to these implants,
which are removed at the end of treatment.
1058H
Fig. 15.25 (a) Exposure of palatal canine
by tissue sacrifice. (By kind permission
of Dental Update.) (b) Ribbon gauze
pack sutured in defect. (By kind
permission of Dental Update.)1059H
Fig. 15.26 (a) Gold chain bonded to
unerupted maxillary permanent canine.
The free end of the chain will be bonded
to the erupted maxillary permanent
incisor following flap replacement. (b)
Magnet bonded to unerupted lower
second premolar tooth following bone
removal. Following flap replacement an
acrylic splint containing the magnet with
the opposite pole will be positioned over
the mucosa.