18: Special Considerations in Treatment for Adults

Special Considerations in Treatment for Adults

Adults who seek orthodontic treatment fall into two quite different groups: (1) younger adults (typically under 35, often in their 20s) who desired but did not receive comprehensive orthodontic treatment as youths and now seek it as they become financially independent and (2) an older group, typically in their 40s or 50s, who have other dental problems and need orthodontics as part of a larger treatment plan. For the first group, the goal is to improve their quality of life. They usually seek the maximum improvement that is possible. They may or may not need extensive treatment by other dental specialists but frequently need interdisciplinary consultation.

The second group seek to maintain what they have, not necessarily to achieve as ideal an orthodontic result as possible. For them, orthodontic treatment is needed to meet specific goals that would make control of dental disease and restoration of missing teeth easier and more effective, so the orthodontics is an adjunctive procedure to the larger periodontal and restorative goals. Until recently, the younger group has comprised most adult orthodontic patients. Because of the large number of aging “baby boomers” born during the immediate post-World War II era, it was easy to predict increasing demand for orthodontics from the second group in the early part of the twenty-first century, and this is occurring. Treatment for older adults has been the fastest growing area in orthodontics during the last decade.

Adjunctive orthodontic treatment, particularly the simpler procedures, often can and should be carried out within the context of general dental practice, and the first part of Chapter 18 is written with that in mind. This discussion does not require familiarity with the principles of comprehensive orthodontic treatment, but it does presume an understanding of orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning.

In contrast, the discussion of comprehensive treatment for adults in the latter part of Chapter 18 builds on the principles discussed in Chapters 14 to 16 and focuses on the aspects of comprehensive treatment for adults that are different from treatment for younger patients. Comprehensive orthodontics for adults tends to be difficult and technically demanding. The absence of growth means that growth modification to treat jaw discrepancies is not possible. The only possibilities are tooth movement for camouflage or orthognathic surgery, but applications of skeletal anchorage now are broadening the scope of orthodontics to include some patients who would have required surgery even a few years ago. Applications of skeletal anchorage are discussed and illustrated in detail in this chapter; a discussion of skeletal anchorage versus surgery follows in Chapter 19.

Adjunctive Versus Comprehensive Treatment

Adjunctive orthodontic treatment for adults is, by definition, tooth movement carried out to facilitate other dental procedures necessary to control disease, restore function, and/or enhance appearance. Usually, it involves only a part of the dentition, and the primary goal usually is to make it easier or more effective to replace missing or damaged teeth. Making it easier for the patient to control periodontal problems is a frequent secondary goal and sometimes is the primary goal. The treatment duration tends to be a few months, rarely more than a year, and long-term retention usually is supplied by the restorations.

With the distinction made in this way, much of the adjunctive treatment discussed in this chapter can be carried out within the context of general dental practice, and the first part of this chapter is written from that perspective. Adjunctive procedures that probably should be done by an orthodontist are labeled as such. Whether one or several practitioners are involved, adjunctive orthodontics must be coordinated carefully with the periodontal and restorative treatment.

In contrast, the goal of comprehensive orthodontics for adults is the same as for adolescents: to produce the best combination of dental and facial appearance, dental occlusion, and stability of the result to maximize benefit to the patient. Typically, comprehensive orthodontics requires a complete fixed orthodontic appliance, intrusion of some teeth is likely to be needed, orthognathic surgery may be considered to improve jaw relationships, and the duration of treatment from braces on to braces off exceeds 1 year. Adults receiving comprehensive treatment are the main candidates for esthetically enhanced appliances; the prime examples are ceramic facial brackets, clear aligners, and lingual appliances. The complexity of the treatment procedures means that an orthodontic specialist is likely to be significantly more efficient in delivering the care.

Goals of Adjunctive Treatment

Typically, adjunctive orthodontic treatment will involve any or all of several procedures: (1) repositioning teeth that have drifted after extractions or bone loss so that more ideal fixed or removable partial dentures can be fabricated or so that implants can be placed, (2) alignment of anterior teeth to allow more esthetic restorations or successful splinting, while maintaining good interproximal bone contour and embrasure form, (3) correction of crossbite if this compromises jaw function (not all crossbites do), and (4) forced eruption of badly broken down teeth to expose sound root structure on which to place crowns or to level/regenerate alveolar bone.

Whatever the occlusal status originally, the goals of adjunctive treatment should be to:

An old rule says that to make it clear what something is, it helps to point out what it isn’t but might be mistaken for. So, some important corollaries:

• Orthodontic treatment for temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) should not be considered adjunctive treatment.

• Although intrusion of teeth can be an important part of comprehensive treatment for adults, it probably should be managed by an orthodontist even as an adjunctive procedure because of the technical difficulties involved and the possibility of periodontal complications. As a general guideline in treatment of adults with periodontal involvement and bone loss, lower incisor teeth that are excessively extruded are best treated by reduction of crown height, which has the added advantage of improving the ultimate crown-to-root ratio of the teeth. For other teeth, tooth–lip relationships must be kept in mind when crown height reduction is considered.

• Crowding of more than 3 to 4 mm should not be attempted by stripping enamel from the contact surfaces of the anterior teeth. It may be advantageous to strip posterior teeth to provide space for alignment of the incisors, but this requires a complete orthodontic appliance and cannot be considered adjunctive treatment.

Principles of Adjunctive Treatment

Diagnostic and Treatment Planning Considerations

Planning for adjunctive treatment requires two steps: (1) collecting an adequate diagnostic data base and (2) developing a comprehensive but clearly stated list of the patient’s problems, taking care not to focus unduly on any one aspect of a complex situation. The importance of this planning stage in adjunctive orthodontic treatment cannot be overemphasized, since the solution to the patient’s specific problems may involve the synthesis of many branches of dentistry. In adjunctive treatment, the restorative dentist usually is the principal architect of the treatment plan, and the orthodontics (whether an orthodontist is or is not part of the treatment team) is to facilitate better restorative treatment.

Nevertheless, the steps outlined in Chapter 6 should be followed when developing the problem list. The interview and clinical examination are the same whatever the type of orthodontic treatment. Diagnostic records for adjunctive orthodontic patients, however, differ in several important ways from those for adolescents and children.

For this adult and dentally compromised population, the records usually should include individual intraoral radiographs to supplement the panoramic radiograph that often suffices for younger and healthier patients (Figure 18-1). When active dental disease is present, the panoramic radiograph does not give sufficient detail. The revised guidelines from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in late 2004 (see Table 6-5) should be followed in determining exactly what radiographs are required in evaluating the patient’s oral health status. The American Board of Orthodontics now requires evidence of pretreatment periodontal condition for all adult patients.1

For adjunctive orthodontics with a partial fixed appliance, pretreatment cephalometric radiographs usually are not required, but it is important to anticipate the impact of various tooth movements on facial esthetics. In some instances, the computer prediction methods used in comprehensive treatment (see Chapter 7) can be quite useful in planning adjunctive treatment. Articulator-mounted casts are likely to be needed because they facilitate the planning of associated restorative procedures.

Once all of the problems have been identified and categorized, the key treatment planning question is: can the occlusion be restored within the existing tooth positions or must some teeth be moved to achieve a satisfactory, stable, healthy, and esthetic result? The goal of providing a physiologic occlusion and facilitating other dental treatment has little to do with Angle’s concept of an ideal occlusion. At this point, it is important to consider the difference between realistic and idealistic treatment planning. In older patients, searching for an “ideal” result could involve more treatment than would really benefit the patient.

Obviously, the time needed for any orthodontic treatment depends on the severity of the problem and the amount of tooth movement desired, but with efficient use of orthodontic appliances, it should be possible to reach the objectives of adjunctive treatment within 6 months. As a practical matter, this means that like comprehensive orthodontics, most adjunctive orthodontics cannot be managed well with traditional removable appliances. It requires either fixed appliances or a sequence of clear aligners to get the job done in a reasonable period of time. In addition, it is becoming increasingly apparent that skeletal anchorage makes adjunctive tooth movement more effective and efficient. For adjunctive treatment, this is almost always in the form of alveolar bone screws.

Biomechanical Considerations

Characteristics of the Orthodontic Appliance

When a partial fixed appliance is to be used for adjunctive treatment, with the possible exception of alignment of anterior teeth, we recommend the 22-slot edgewise appliance with twin brackets. The rectangular (edgewise) bracket slot permits control of buccolingual axial inclinations, the relatively wide bracket helps control undesirable rotations and tipping, and the larger slot size allows the use of stabilizing wires that are somewhat stiffer than ordinarily might be used in comprehensive treatment.

Recently, further developments in clear aligner therapy (CAT [see Chapter 10]) have provided an effective type of removable appliance that can be well suited to alignment of anterior teeth. Removable appliances of the traditional plastic-and-wire type are rarely satisfactory for adjunctive (or comprehensive) treatment. They often are uncomfortable and are likely to be worn for too few hours per day to be effective. With CAT, both discomfort and interference with speech and mastication are minimized, and patient cooperation improves. A fixed appliance on posterior teeth only is all but invisible, but it is quite apparent on anterior teeth, and the better appearance of a clear aligner also is a factor in choosing it to align anterior teeth.

Despite this esthetic advantage, there are biomechanical limitations. Control of root position is extremely difficult with clear aligners, and it also is difficult to correct rotations and to extrude teeth.2 If these limitations are not important in a particular adjunctive case, CAT can be considered. If they are, in nearly all cases adults who are candidates for adjunctive treatment will accept a lingual appliance or a visible fixed appliance.3

Modern edgewise brackets of the straight-wire type are designed for a specific location on an individual tooth. Placing the bracket in its ideal position on each tooth implies that every tooth will be repositioned if necessary to achieve ideal occlusion (Figure 18-2, A). Since adjunctive treatment is concerned with only limited tooth movements, usually it is neither necessary nor desirable to alter the position of every tooth in the arch. For this reason, in a partial fixed appliance for adjunctive treatment, the brackets are placed in an ideal position only on teeth to be moved, and the remaining teeth to be incorporated in the anchor system are bracketed so that the archwire slots are closely aligned (Figure 18-2, B). This allows the anchorage segments of the wire to be engaged passively in the brackets with little bending. Passive engagement of wires to anchor teeth produces minimal disturbance of teeth that are in a physiologically satisfactory position. This important point is illustrated in more detail in the sections on specific treatment procedures that follow.

Effects of Reduced Periodontal Support

Since patients who need adjunctive orthodontic treatment often have lost alveolar bone to periodontal disease before it was brought under control, the amount of bone support of each tooth is an important special consideration. When bone is lost, the periodontal ligament (PDL) area decreases, and the same force against the crown produces greater pressure in the PDL of a periodontally compromised tooth than a normally supported one. The absolute magnitude of force used to move teeth must be reduced when periodontal support has been lost. In addition, the greater the loss of attachment, the smaller the area of supported root and the further apical the center of resistance will become (Figure 18-3). This affects the moments created by forces applied to the crown and the moments needed to control root movement. In general terms, tooth movement is quite possible despite bone loss, but lighter forces and relatively larger moments are needed.

Timing and Sequence of Treatment

In the development of any orthodontic treatment plan, the first step is control of any active dental disease (Figure 18-4). Before any tooth movement, active caries and pulpal pathology must be eliminated, using extractions, restorative procedures, and pulpal or apical treatment as necessary. Endodontically treated teeth respond normally to orthodontic force, if all residual chronic inflammation has been eliminated.4 Prior to orthodontics, teeth should be restored with well-placed amalgams or composite resins. Restorations requiring detailed occlusal anatomy should not be placed until any adjunctive orthodontic treatment has been completed because the occlusion inevitably will be changed. This could necessitate remaking crowns, bridges, or removable partial dentures.

Periodontal disease also must be controlled before any orthodontics begins because orthodontic tooth movement superimposed on poorly controlled periodontal health can lead to rapid and irreversible breakdown of the periodontal support apparatus.5 Scaling, curettage (by open flap procedures, if necessary), and gingival grafts should be undertaken as appropriate. Surgical pocket elimination and osseous surgery should be delayed until completion of the orthodontic phase of treatment because significant soft tissue and bony recontouring occurs during orthodontic tooth movement. Clinical studies have shown that orthodontic treatment of adults with both normal and compromised periodontal tissues can be completed without loss of attachment, if there is good periodontal therapy both initially and during tooth movement.6

During this preparatory phase, the patient’s enthusiasm for treatment and ability to maintain good overall oral hygiene should be carefully monitored. Adjunctive orthodontics has the potential to do more harm than good in patients who cannot or will not maintain good oral hygiene. If disease can be controlled, however, adjunctive orthodontics can significantly improve the final restorative and periodontal procedures.

Adjunctive Treatment Procedures

Uprighting Posterior Teeth

Treatment Planning Considerations

When a first permanent molar is lost during childhood or adolescence and not replaced, the second molar drifts mesially and the premolars often tip distally and rotate as space opens between them. As the teeth move, the adjacent gingival tissue becomes folded and distorted, forming a plaque-harboring pseudopocket that may be virtually impossible for the patient to clean (Figure 18-5). Repositioning the teeth eliminates this potentially pathologic condition and has the added advantage of simplifying the ultimate restorative procedures.

When molar uprighting is planned, a number of interrelated questions must be answered:

• If the third molar is present, should both the second and third molars be uprighted? For many patients, distal positioning of the third molar would move it into a position in which good hygiene could not be maintained or it would not be in functional occlusion. In these circumstances, it is more appropriate to extract the third molar and simply upright the remaining second molar tooth. If both molars are to be uprighted, a significant change in technique is required, as described below.

• How should the tipped teeth be uprighted? By distal crown movement (tipping), which would increase the space available for a bridge pontic or implant (Figure 18-6), or by mesial root movement, which would reduce or even close the edentulous space? As a general rule, treatment by distal tipping of the second molar and a bridge or implant to replace the first molar is preferred. If extensive ridge resorption has already occurred, particularly in the buccolingual dimension, closing the space by mesial movement of a wide molar root into the narrow alveolar ridge will proceed very slowly. If uprighting with space closure is to be done successfully, skeletal anchorage in the form of a temporary skeletal anchorage often is needed, and the treatment time is likely to be around 3 years (see Figure 18-37).

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FIGURE 18-37 A, Panoramic radiograph of a 32-year-old patient who lost mandibular first molars years ago and now desired treatment to correct her malocclusion. She chose comprehensive fixed appliance treatment, including uprighting of both the second and third molars, opening space for replacement of the missing first molars with either implants or fixed bridges. Treatment time was 30 months. It would not have taken that long to only upright the molars, but uprighting two molars on each side takes much longer than uprighting only one molar, and it is difficult to maintain the occlusal relationships without a maxillary appliance. B, Posttreatment radiograph. Uprighting the second molar does not create new bone but does tend to improve the periodontal condition; in this patient the persisting one-wall pocket on the mesial of the left second molar is much more treatable than it would have been without the uprighting. Note that fixed retainers are being used to maintain both incisor alignment and the position of the molars until restorations can be placed. C, Panoramic radiograph of a 39-year-old patient who also lost mandibular first molars years ago. Comprehensive orthodontics was planned to align the anterior teeth in both arches, correct the supereruption of the maxillary first molars, and close the old extraction spaces. D, After completion of treatment, which required 36 months primarily because tooth movement into old extraction spaces like this requires remodeling of cortical bone. Note that the periodontal situation on the mesial of the second molars remains less than ideal and that fixed retainers are being used to maintain closure of the extraction spaces, as well as incisor alignment. (Courtesy Dr. D. Grauer.)

• Is extrusion of a tipped molar permissible? Uprighting a mesially tipped tooth by tipping it distally, which leaves the root apex in its pretreatment position, also extrudes it. This has the merit of reducing the depth of the pseudopocket found on the mesial surface, and since the attached gingiva follows the cementoenamel junction while the mucogingival junction remains stable, it also increases the width of the keratinized tissue in that area. In addition, if the height of the clinical crown is systematically reduced as uprighting proceeds, the ultimate crown–root length ratio will be improved (Figure 18-7). Unless slight extrusion or crown–height reduction is acceptable, which usually is the case, the patient should be considered to have problems that require comprehensive treatment and treated accordingly.

• Should the premolars be repositioned as part of the treatment? This will depend on the position of these teeth and the restorative plan, but in many cases the answer is yes. It is particularly desirable to close spaces between premolars when uprighting molars because this will improve both the periodontal prognosis and long-term stability. In some instances, uprighting the molar and then moving the premolar back against it will provide a better site mesial to the premolar for an implant.

In molar uprighting, the treatment time will vary with the type and extent of the tooth movement required. Uprighting one second molar by distal crown tipping proceeds much more rapidly than mesial root movement. Failure to eliminate occlusal interferences will prolong treatment. The simplest cases should be completed in 8 to 10 weeks, but uprighting two molars in the same quadrant by tipping them distally could easily take 6 months, and the complexity of doing this puts it at the outer limit of adjunctive treatment with a partial fixed appliance.

Appliances for Molar Uprighting

A partial fixed appliance to upright tipped molars consists of bonded brackets on the premolars and canine in that quadrant and either a bonded rectangular tube on the molar or a molar band. A general guideline is that molar bands are best when the periodontal condition allows, which means for all practical purposes they would be used in younger and healthier patients. The greater the degree of periodontal breakdown around the molar to be uprighted, the more a bonded attachment should be considered.

Where premolar and canine brackets should be placed depends on the intended tooth movement and occlusion. If these teeth are to be repositioned, the brackets should be placed in the ideal position at the center of the facial surface of each tooth. However, if the teeth are merely serving as anchor units and no repositioning is planned, then the brackets should be placed in the position of maximum convenience where minimum wire bending will be required to engage a passive archwire (see Figure 18-2).

Uprighting a Single Molar:

Distal crown tipping: If the molar is only moderately tipped, treatment often can be accomplished with a flexible rectangular wire. The best choice is 17 × 25 austenitic nickel–titanium (A-NiTi) that delivers approximately 100 gm of force (see Chapter 10). With this material, a single wire may complete the necessary uprighting (Figure 18-8). A braided rectangular steel wire also can be used but is more likely to require removal and reshaping. It is important to relieve the occlusion as the tooth tips upright. Failure to do this may cause excessive tooth mobility and increases treatment time.

If the molar is severely tipped, a continuous wire that uprights the molar will have side effects (which almost always are undesirable) on the position and inclination of the second premolar. For that reason it is better to carry out the bulk of the uprighting using a sectional uprighting spring (Figure 18-9). After preliminary alignment of the anchor teeth if necessary, stiff rectangular wire (19 × 25 steel) maintains the relationship of the teeth in the anchor segment, and an auxiliary spring is placed in the molar auxiliary tube. The uprighting spring is formed from either 17 × 25 beta-Ti wire without a helical loop or 17 × 25 steel wire with a loop added to provide more springiness. The mesial arm of the helical spring should be adjusted to lie passively in the vestibule and upon activation should hook over the archwire in the stabilizing segment. It is important to position the hook so that it is free to slide distally as the molar uprights. In addition, a slight lingual bend placed in the uprighting spring is needed to counteract the forces that tend to tip the anchor teeth buccally and the molar lingually (Figure 18-9, C).

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FIGURE 18-9 Uprighting with an auxiliary spring. A, If the relative alignment of the molar precludes extending the stabilizing segment into the molar bracket, then a rigid stabilizing wire, 19 × 25 stainless steel, is placed in the premolars and canine only (often with the brackets positioned so this wire is passive—see Figure 18-2). The mesial arm of the uprighting spring lies in the vestibule before engagement, and the spring is activated by lifting the mesial arm and hooking it over a stabilizing wire in the canine and premolar brackets. B, Auxiliary uprighting spring to molar just after initial placement. Note the helix bent into the steel wire that forms the spring to provide better spring qualities. C, Because the force is applied to the facial surface of the teeth, an auxiliary uprighting spring tends not only to extrude the molar but also to roll it lingually, while intruding the premolars and flaring them buccally. To counteract this side effect, the uprighting spring should be curved buccolingually so that when it is placed into the molar tube, the hook would lie lingually to the archwire prior to activation (dotted line). D, Better control of anchorage, with either a continuous wire or an auxiliary spring, is obtained when a canine-to-canine stabilizing wire is bonded on the lingual surface of these teeth.

Mesial root movement: If a mesial root movement is desired, an alternative treatment approach is indicated. Skeletal anchorage is required if the goal is to close the old extraction space (see Figure 18-36). If a small amount of mesial movement to prevent opening too much space is the goal, a single “T-loop” sectional archwire of 17 × 25 stainless steel or 19 × 25 beta-titanium (beta-Ti) wire can be effective (Figure 18-10). After initial alignment of the anchor teeth with a light flexible wire, the T-loop wire is adapted to fit passively into the brackets on the anchor teeth and gabled at the T to exert an uprighting force on the molar. Insertion into the molar can be from the mesial or distal. If the treatment plan calls for maintaining or closing rather than increasing the pontic space, the distal end of the archwire should be pulled distally through the molar tube, opening the T-loop by 1 to 2 mm, and then bent sharply gingivally to maintain this opening. This activation provides a mesial force on the molar that counteracts distal crown tipping while the tooth uprights (Figure 18-10, D). If opening the space is desired, the end of the wire is not bent over so the tooth can slide distally along it.

The T-loop appliance also is indicated if the molar to be uprighted is severely tipped but has no occlusal antagonist. In that circumstance, a T-loop minimizes the extrusion that accompanies uprighting, which can be excessive with the other methods when there is no antagonist.

Final positioning of molar and premolars: Once molar uprighting is almost complete, often it is desirable to increase the available pontic space and close open contacts in the anterior segment. This is done best using a relatively stiff base wire, with a compressed coil spring threaded over the wire to produce the required force system. With 22-slot brackets, the base wire should be 18 mil round or 17 × 25 rectangular steel wire, which should engage the anchor teeth and the uprighted molar more or less passively. The wire should extend through the molar tube, projecting about 1 mm beyond the distal. An open coil steel spring (.009 wire, .030 lumen) is cut so that it is 1 to 2 mm longer than the space, slipped over the base wire (Figure 18-11), and compressed between the molar and distal premolar. It should exert a force of approximately 150 gm to move the premolars mesially while continuing to tip the molar distally. The coil spring can be reactivated without removing it by compressing the spring and adding a split stop to maintain the compression (Figure 18-11, B).

Uprighting Two Molars in the Same Quadrant

Because the resistance offered when uprighting two molars is considerable, only small amounts of space closure should be attempted. Unless comprehensive orthodontics with a complete fixed appliance is planned, the goal should be a modest amount of distal crown tipping of both teeth, which typically would leave space for a premolar-sized implant or pontic. In the lower arch, a bonded canine-to-canine lingual stabilizing wire (which is similar to a bonded retainer) is needed to control the position of the anterior teeth (see Figure 18-9, D). Trying to upright both the second and third molars bilaterally at the same time is not a good idea—significant movement of the anchor teeth is inevitable unless skeletal anchorage is used.

When both the second and third molars are to be uprighted, the third molar should carry a single rectangular tube and the second molar a bracket. Since the second molar is usually more severely tipped than the third molar, increased flexibility of the wire mesial and distal to the second molar is required. The best approach is to use a highly flexible wire initially—17 × 25 A-NiTi usually is a good choice. Excessive mobility of the teeth can result from failure to reduce occlusal interferences.

Retention

After molar uprighting, the teeth are in an unstable position until the prosthesis that provides the long-term retention is placed. Long delays in making the final prosthesis should be avoided if possible. As a general guideline, a fixed bridge can and should be placed within 6 weeks after uprighting is completed. Especially if an implant is planned, there may be a considerable delay while a bone graft heals and the implant becomes integrated. If retention is needed for more than a few weeks, the preferred approach is an intracoronal wire splint (19 × 25 or heavier steel wire) bonded into shallow preparations in the abutment teeth (Figure 18-12). This type of splint causes little gingival irritation and can be left in place for a considerable period, but it would have to be removed and rebonded to allow bone grafting and implant surgery.

Crossbite Correction

Posterior crossbites frequently are corrected using “through the bite” elastics from a conveniently placed tooth in the opposing arch, which moves both the upper and lower tooth (Figure 18-13, A). This tips the teeth into the correct occlusion but also tends to extrude them. For this reason, elastics must be used with caution to correct posterior crossbites in adults because the extrusion can change occlusal relationships throughout the mouth. One way to obtain more movement of a maxillary tooth than its antagonist in the lower arch is to have several teeth in the lower arch stabilized by a heavy archwire segment (Figure 18-13, B to D). Of course, the same approach could be used in reverse to produce more movement of a mandibular tooth. If a mesially tipped lower molar also is in buccal crossbite, an auxiliary uprighting spring can move it lingually as it uprights by two modifications in design: omitting the inward bending of the spring before it is activated (see Figure 18-9, C) and making the spring from round wire.

If an anterior crossbite is due only to a displaced tooth and if correcting it requires only tipping (as perhaps in the case of a maxillary incisor that was tipped lingually into crossbite), then a removable appliance or clear aligner may be used to tip the tooth into a normal position. However, when using either type of removable appliance, tipping a tooth facially or lingually also produces a vertical change in occlusal level (Figure 18-14). Tipping maxillary incisors labially to correct anterior crossbite nearly always produces an apparent intrusion and a reduction in overbite. This can present a problem during retention, since a positive overbite serves to retain the crossbite correction. A fixed appliance generally is necessary for vertical control in correction of anterior crossbites.

If a deep overbite exists on the teeth in crossbite, correction will be much easier if a temporary bite plane that frees the occlusion is added. This bite plane should be carefully constructed to contact the occlusal surfaces of all teeth to prevent any supereruption during treatment.

Establishing a good overbite relationship is the key to maintaining crossbite correction. Crown reconstruction can be used to provide positive occlusal indexing, while eliminating any balancing interferences from the lingual cusps of posterior teeth.

Extrusion

Treatment Planning

For teeth with defects in or adjacent to the cervical third of the root, controlled extrusion (sometimes called forced eruption) can be an excellent alternative to extensive crown-lengthening surgery.7 Extruding the tooth can allow isolation under a rubber dam for endodontic therapy when it would not be possible otherwise. Extrusion also allows crown margins to be placed on sound tooth structure while maintaining a uniform gingival contour that provides improved esthetics (Figure 18-15). In addition, the alveolar bone height is not compromised, the apparent crown length is maintained, and the bony support of adjacent teeth is not compromised. As the tooth is extruded, the attached gingiva should follow the cementoenamel junction. This returns the width of the attached gingiva to its original level. However, it usually is necessary to perform some limited recontouring of the gingiva, and often of the bone, to produce a contour even with the adjacent teeth and a proper biologic width.

As a general rule, control of apical infection should be completed before extrusion of the root begins. For some patients, however, the orthodontic movement must be completed before definitive endodontic procedures because one purpose of extrusion may be to provide better access for endodontic and restorative procedures. If so, preliminary endodontic treatment to relieve symptoms is done initially, and the tooth is maintained with a temporary root filling or other palliative treatment until it has been moved to a better position.

The distance the tooth should be extruded is determined by three things: (1) the location of the defect (e.g., fracture line, root perforation, or resorption site), (2) space to place the margin of the restoration so that it is not at the base of the gingival sulcus (typically, 1 mm is needed), and (3) an allowance for the biologic width of the gingival attachment (about 2 mm). Thus, if a fracture is at the height of the alveolar crest, the tooth should be extruded about 3 mm; if it is 2 mm below the crest, 5 mm of extrusion ideally would be needed. The size of the pulp chamber or canal at the level of the margin of the future restoration also is a consideration—the wall of the tooth at that location must not be too thin. The crown-to-root ratio at the end of treatment should be 1 : 1 or better. A tooth with a poorer ratio can be maintained only by splinting it to adjacent teeth.

Isolated one- or two-wall vertical pockets pose a particular esthetic problem if they occur in the anterior region of the mouth. Surgical correction may be contraindicated simply on esthetic grounds. Forced eruption of such teeth, with concomitant crown reduction, can improve the periodontal condition while maintaining excellent esthetics.

In general, extrusion can be as rapid as 1 mm per week without damage to the PDL, so 3 to 6 weeks is sufficient for almost any patient. Too much force, and too rapid a rate of movement, runs the risk of tissue damage and ankylosis.

Orthodontic Technique

Since extrusion is the tooth movement that occurs most readily and intrusion is the movement that occurs least readily, ample anchorage is usually available from adjacent teeth. The appliance needs to be quite rigid over the anchor teeth, and flexible where it attaches to the tooth that is being extruded. A continuous flexible archwire (see Figure 18-15) produces the desired extrusion but must be managed carefully because it also tends to tip the adjacent teeth toward the tooth being extruded, reducing the space for subsequent restorations and disturbing the interproximal contacts within the arch (Figure 18-16, A). A flexible cantilever spring to extrude a tooth (Figure 18-16, B), or a rigid stabilizing wire and an auxiliary elastomeric module or spring for extrusion (Figure 18-16, C) provide better control.

Two methods are suggested for extrusion in uncomplicated cases. The first employs a stabilizing wire, 19 × 25 or 21 × 25 stainless steel, bonded directly to the facial surface of the adjacent teeth (Figure 18-17). A post and core with temporary crown and pin is placed on the tooth to be extruded, and an elastomeric module is used to extrude the tooth. This appliance is simple and provides excellent control of anchor teeth, but better control can be obtained when orthodontic brackets are used.

The alternative is to bond brackets to the anchor teeth, bond an attachment (often a button rather than a bracket) to the tooth to be extruded, and use interarch elastics (Figure 18-18) or a flexible archwire (Figure 18-19). If the buccal surface of the tooth to be extruded is intact, a bracket should be bonded as far gingivally as possible.

If the crown of a posterior tooth is hopelessly destroyed, an orthodontic band with a bracket usually can be placed over the remaining root surface. An orthodontic band has the benefit of helping isolation procedures during emergency endodontic treatment. Once endodontic treatment is completed, a pin in the tooth can be used for the attachment, and a temporary crown can be placed if needed for esthetics. Adjacent teeth are bonded to serve as the anchor unit.

With any technique for controlled extrusion, the patient must be seen every 1 to 2 weeks to remove any occlusal contacts that would impede eruption (for instance, shorten the height of a temporary crown) if this is needed (see Figure 18-17), control inflammation, and monitor progress. After active tooth movement has been completed, at least 3 weeks but not more than 6 weeks of stabilization is needed to allow reorganization of the PDL. If periodontal surgery is needed to recontour the alveolar bone and/or reposition the gingiva, it can be done a month after completion of extrusion. As with molar uprighting, it is better to complete the definitive pros/>

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Jan 2, 2015 | Posted by in Orthodontics | Comments Off on 18: Special Considerations in Treatment for Adults

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