Abstract
Periodontal treatment and orthodontic treatment must work closely together for comprehensive dental therapy and a complementary relationship is ideal. In controlling periodontal disease, tooth malposition makes plaque control and occlusion significantly more difficult. It has been suggested that the presence of periodontal disease prior to orthodontic treatment is not a contraindication to orthodontic treatment if inflammation is under control. On the other hand, esthetic and functional periodontal problems such as gingival recession, crown shortening, and widening of the embrasure could occur after orthodontic treatment. In many cases, such problems can be treated by periodontal plastic surgery and/or tooth restorative procedures if appropriate preoperative and postoperative diagnoses are made. In particular, orthodontic treatment of teeth that have been dislocated from the bone housing with gingival recession prior to orthodontic treatment should be carefully indicated because gingival recession could improve as the teeth are moved into the bone housing.
