The William Houston gold medal of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh 2022: Two case reports

Abstract

This paper describes the orthodontic treatment of two cases that were successful in winning the William Houston Gold Medal at the Membership in Orthodontics Examinations of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 2022. Both cases discuss the management of palatally impacted maxillary canines and treatment was initiated during the emerging COVID-19 crisis and completed over a 27-month period. The first case describes the management of a 15-year-old female with a Class II division 1 incisor relationship complicated by a palatally impacted upper left canine, moderate upper and lower arch crowding, and a lower centreline discrepancy with an associated right lateral displacement on closure. Treatment involved open surgical exposure of the impacted canine, a quad helix appliance, premolar extractions, and upper and lower fixed appliances. The second case describes the management of a 14-year-old female with a Class III incisor relationship complicated by bilaterally impacted maxillary canines, impeded eruption of the lower right second molar, moderate lower and severe upper arch crowding, and an upper centreline discrepancy. These case reports aim to demonstrate the high standards of care achieved by Orthodontic Specialty Trainee Registrars in the UK and provide aspirational standards for future trainees.