Traction of impacted canines in a skeletal Class III malocclusion: A challenging orthodontic treatment

This case report describes the successful traction of 2 severely impacted canines. The patient, a 7-year-old girl, had good general health, nasal breathing, crossbite of the lateral incisors and canines, and a Class I molar relationship. The panoramic radiograph showed that the permanent canines were positioned above the roots of the lateral incisors, with the right canine in an accentuated inclination. The cephalometric analysis showed a skeletal Class III malocclusion with a predominance of horizontal growth. The Haas appliance associated with maxillary protraction was used during the first stage of treatment for 14 months. The second stage included the extraction of the deciduous molars, distal movement of the permanent molars to create space, and traction of the canines, and was associated with complete orthodontic treatment. The patient showed good esthetic and functional results at the end of treatment, verified by the stability over a period of 8 years after retention.