Prosthetic considerations for orthodontic implant site development in the adult patient.

Proper site development is a key factor for long-term clinical success of dental implants. Whereas surgical and restorative techniques have been refined to ensure predictable functional and esthetic outcome, individual clinical prerequisites do not always allow proper placement of implants when prosthetic and material properties are considered. Orthodontic tooth movement may be a viable and nonsurgical site development treatment option. With the introduction and advancements of minimal invasive and less visible orthodontic appliances, a growing number of adult patients are willing to obtain orthodontic treatment. The spectrum of modern appliances is broad and ranges from clear aligners to lingual brackets. Skeletal anchorage devices such as orthodontic mini-implants often eliminate unpopular external anchorage devices (ie, headgear) in adult patients, This article discusses the selection of an appropriate pretreatment approach by taking patient-specific criteria into account.

Updated implant-retained restorative solutions in patients with hypodontia.

Hypodontia is often found during orthodontic screening and occurs with a prevalence of between 5% and 10%. One or more congenitally missing permanent teeth is a clinical finding that affects both male and female patients. Although maintaining deciduous teeth is an option in a few cases, the majority of patients with agenesis of teeth require extraction and orthodontic space closure or restorative treatment. Depending on the number and location of missing teeth, implant-supported fixed single-tooth restorations provide excellent long-term results. Choosing appropriate treatment techniques and materials will result in long-term clinical function, stability, and esthetic success.