Occlusal Therapy for a Case of Mandibular Deviation Secondary to Destruction of the Molar Area

Abstract

Cases in which the vertical dimension has decreased as a result of destruction of the molar area are difficult to treat, and in quite a few cases a combination of a variety of different methods is used.
In order to achieve alignment, restoration of the vertical dimension, and improvement of mandibular deviation in our own case, in which mandibular deviation had developed in association with a decrease in vertical dimension on the left side, we used occlusal therapy by means of orthodontic therapy before extracting molars that had been diagnosed as impossible to preserve. After the position of the mandible had improved, the molars were extracted, and an implant prosthesis was selected for the area of the defect to provide reliable posterior support. While diagnosis is obviously important when combinations of various treatment methods, such as orthodontic therapy, prosthetic therapy, and implant therapy, are used, as in our own case, the results of treatment are governed by the preparation of a precise treatment plan.