Saving Natural Teeth Without Implants: Partial Orthodontic Treatment for Front Teeth, Prosthetic Orthodontics

Hello

This is Apgujeong Orthodontic Clinic.

I believe the most valuable and beneficial case for a patient is when, in a situation where an implant would be needed, orthodontic treatment allows the tooth to be saved and used.

Orthodontic treatment that makes a tooth, which would otherwise be impossible to restore with a prosthesis due to severe damage, usable with a prosthesis is called prosthetic orthodontics.

For the patient, it reduces the cost of implants and bone grafting, and above all, being able to save and use their own tooth is also very rewarding for the doctor performing the treatment.

This patient came in after hearing that the front tooth was broken and that an implant and bone graft would be needed.

Before removing it right away and proceeding with an implant, the patient came in wondering whether there might be a way to save and use it through orthodontic treatment.

Because the broken area was at the root, it could not be restored with a crown in its current state, so extraction was the only option.

However, if the tooth is pulled down and extruded through orthodontics, it can be restored with a crown and saved.

The dark discoloration of the broken tooth can also be partially concealed with orthodontic treatment, making the gums appear less dark.

If the root portion of the tooth is moved backward, the overlying gum tissue becomes thicker accordingly, so the dark color shows through less.

We started treatment by attaching a Clippy-C appliance to the upper teeth so that the root could be moved more easily, and an MTA appliance for partial orthodontic treatment to the misaligned lower teeth.

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Treatment was carried out with Clippy-C attached while the broken tooth was covered with a temporary tooth.

Usually, when a tooth is extruded from the alveolar bone, the gums also move down with it.

So if you look at the blue arrow in the photo after 6 months, you can see that the gums have grown downward along with the tooth, making the tooth look about half as long as it did at first.

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A gingivectomy was performed to remove the overly grown-down gum tissue.

After restoring the original gum line,

the tooth was neatly finished and moved on to crown prosthetic treatment matched to the color of the adjacent tooth.

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The final crown was completed beautifully.

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At some point in life, everyone may end up needing to have a tooth extracted.

It may be due to injury or decay from cavities,

but what is important is that before getting an implant, I hope you visit a nearby orthodontic clinic and discuss with the orthodontist whether there is a way to save and use your own tooth.