Abstract
The first requirement of implant treatment is to obtain sufficient bone quantity in the implant placement area. We have developed a method to obtain new bone and bone apposition nonsurgically using minor tooth movement (MTM) before insertion of implants. Here, we report two cases treated using this approach that both had satisfactory outcomes.
Case 1 was a 46-year-old woman with insufficient vertical bone quantity in the area where the maxillary right first molar was lost. There was some distance between the root apex of the second premolar and maxillary sinus. In this case, the maxillary second premolar was distally moved to the area of tooth loss using MTM. The period of orthodontic treatment was 13 months. An implant was inserted in the original area in which the second premolar had been present. The superstructure was then placed on the implant. Four years have passed since this treatment and the outcome is satisfactory.
Case 2 was a 29-year-old man with insufficient vertical bone quantity in the area where the maxillary right first molar had existed. The root apex of the second premolar touched the maxillary sinus. The maxillary second premolar was distally moved using MTM. The period of orthodontic treatment was 10 months. An implant was inserted into the newly made space and the superstructure was placed on the implant. Metamorphosis was observed in the remodeled bone wall of the maxillary sinus attached to the distal part of the moved maxillary second premolar. After three years and two months, the outcome is favorable.
These two cases show that the MTM approach makes it possible to obtain new bone and bone apposition and to insert an implant in the newly made space in the original bone.
