Abstract
Recently, more patients undergoing prosthodontic treatment of the anterior teeth have been expecting an improvement in esthetics as well as function. Reconstruction of the interproximal dental papilla by crown adjustment has become the most common means of meeting the demand for a mouth having a natural and balanced appearance. However, even with the currently available techniques, it is difficult to maintain the gingival margin in the long term unless the periodontal tissue is healthy. Here we describe a 43-year-old woman who presented with both esthetic and pronunciation problems due to generalized chronic periodontitis accompanied by facial flaring and extrusion of the anterior teeth. We controlled the periodontal inflammation and stabilized the occlusion by periodontal surgery and orthodontic treatment. After amelioration of the facial flaring of the anterior teeth, we improved the proportions of the gingival margin by orthodontic treatment. For the anterior teeth whose roots had become thin, we created a contour equivalent to that of the natural teeth by prosthodonti treatment. This interdisciplinary approach enabled substantial improvement in the patient's appearance and pronunciation. J Jpn Soc Periodontol, 45: 142-149, 2003.
