implant
feature
by Paresh B. Patel, DDS
F ig. 1
F ig. 2
One of the most difficult restorative procedures to manage has
always been how to replace the missing anterior tooth. One of the most common in young adults happens to be the congenitally missing lateral incisor (Fig. 1).1
Treatment options range from:
* A traditional three-unit bridge utilizing the canine and central incisor as abutments
* A resin-bonded bridge utilizing the canine and central incisor lingual surfaces
as retainers
* Orthodontic movement of the canine into the lateral position along with cosmetic
reshaping
* An implant to replace the missing maxillary lateral
If enough bone volume, soft tissue and mesial distal space is available, then a standard
body implant can be considered. In cases where these dimensions are deficient, the restorative dentist will have difficulty managing these violated parameters. Potential problems
can be lack of restorative prosthetic space, implants too close to adjacent roots, implant
shows through or facial plate dehiscence.
A novel solution to solve these issues can be the use of a 3.0mm implant. The use of
a small-diameter implant such as this should be considered as most congenitally missing
1.
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MARCH 2014 » dentaltown.com
Graber JM. Anomalies in number of teeth. In: Graber TM, ed. Orthodontics: Principles and practice. 1966
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Dentaltown March 2014