Orthodontic treatment preparatory to implant placement and restoration is often advantageous, if not essential. Positional management of the remaining dentition is often required preparatory to implant placement. This will not only ensure proper proportions to the eventual restoration, but is also necessary to provide for adequate inter-radicular space. From a tissue standpoint, certain orthodontic movements can be utilized to modify and even generate hard and soft tissues, thereby changing the environment or site and facilitating implant placement and success. Depending upon case dictates, pre-implant orthodontics can be utilized for either or both of these purposes.
Abstract
Introduction
Dental implant therapy has dramatically transformed dental treatment and affected virtually all specialties of the profession. With regard to orthodontic interactions with implants, the present author has always considered that these interactions occur in two ways. There are orthodontic treatment modalities that are performed preparatory to implant placements, and conversely there are implant strategies that can facilitate orthodontic mechanotherapy. This paper will focus on the former sequence, and consider factors relevant to tooth position and tissue modification.