“Single Canine and 3 Premolar Extractions for Achieving a Balanced Occlusion and Congruent Dental Midlines” – A Case Report

This case report is of a 29 year old female patient who presented with unfavorably impacted maxillary left canine and severely proclined upper and lower dentition. This case was corrected merely by employing simple mechanics with the help of Fixed Orthodontic Mechanotherapy. The patient presented with bimaxillary dentoalveolar protrusion and hence needed extraction of all 4 premolars. Since the unfavorably impacted maxillary left canine needed extraction as well, it was decided to not extract the premolar in the 2 nd quadrant as the canine extraction in that quadrant would compensate for the space needed for correction of anterior proclination. Hence, 3 premolars and a single canine were extracted in this case. Following fixed orthodontic treatment, marked improvement in patient's smile was achieved and there was a remarkable increase in the patient's confidence and quality of life. The treatment results were demonstrated with proper case selection and good patient cooperation with fixed appliance therapy. The patient was extremely satisfied with the results and there was significant improvement in her smile at the end of the treatment.