Maintaining Missing Central Space Using TAD

Dental News Volume XX, Number II, June, 2013

by Dr. Dileep Thomas and Dr. Abdulrahman Albedawi

Abstract

Typically developmental anomalies are not uncommon in orthodontic cases. One of the most common contributor to malocclusion is hypodontia. Maxillary lateral incisors are known to be some of the most common congenital missing teeth. This introduces an imbalance to the maxillary and mandibular dental arch length¹. Treatment for the replacement of the missing tooth depends on a number of factors, such as arch length, the number of missing teeth, patient profile and smile line. Treatment options are either to close the space by positioning the adjacent tooth into the missing tooth site, close it with a fixed bridge² or an implant supported crown.

Treatment plans for patients with missing max­illary incisors have traditionally included either space closure or space open­ing for future restoration. The most common objectives to orthodon­tic space closure are that the treatment outcome may not look "natural", making retention questionable, also making the functional occlusion compromised. Clinicians in general pre­fer to create space for the missing lateral incisor with single-tooth implants or resin-bonded bridges^3-12.   Implants are becoming the treatment of choice for replacing missing teeth. One disadvantage with implants is that they should not be placed until all residual growth has subsided.  That, however, means for most orthodontics patients who are adolescent, have to wait 4-6 years until the appropriate age of 18 for the implants. Maintaining the space  for a long time can be challenging especially with teenagers if their cooperation and the retainer wear is compromised. Gradually with time the bone at the missing tooth site remodels thereby making it thin and maynot support or be wide enough for the Implant¹³. TAD or mini screws are commonly used in orthodontic cases for anchorage ;  they are relatively cheap and have proved their success in supporting tooth movement. Orthodontic management of a congenital missing upper lateral incisor is the subject of this case report.  The primary orthodontic consideration was to maintain the space for the Implant and maintain bone integrity where a TAD with an acrylic prosthetic tooth was placed as a space maintainer.

Treatment Objectives

Ideally, the treatment objectives for the final restoration of the missing tooth would be commenced only after there is a downward incline towards to any residual remaining growth¹⁴. However, achievement of this objective would lead to further bone loss, thereby making it unsuitable for either an implant or a fixed bridge prosthesis at the suitable age. Therefore to preserve the bone height and thickness a temporary anchorage implant was thought of.

The alternative method to reestablish normal alveolar process is by tooth transplantation which can inherent a potential for bone induction as indicated by B.U. Zachrisson et al¹⁵.

Treatment Procedure

The clinical patient is a 14 year old female with congenitally missing left central incisor, generalized spacing on the upper anterior with a midline shift to the left. On examination she presented a straight profile and a Class I molar relation. After the alignment and the midlines were coincided with the space opened up, the braces were removed and spaces were maintained using removable retainers (fig. 1,2). In order to avoid collapsing of the arch and further degradation of the bone height, a TAD with an acrylic tooth was shaped and trimmed accordingly to preserve the present conditions (fig. 3,4,5).

As the radiographs showed that there was enough bone thickness; the roots were diverged and it had sufficient bone shelf in the edentulous area.

An 8 mm screw of IMTEC^® was placed parallel to the adjacent roots in alignment with the adjacent teeth. The head was placed and checked for clearance from the lower incisors. The acrylic tooth was trimmed and checked for occlusal interferences.  Wax was placed in between to check for the approximate fit prior to placing it firmly with composite (fig. 4,5).

Fig1: Space created for the TAD

Fig 2: Occlusal view (mirror image) space created for the TAD

Fig 3: TAD in place

Fig 4: Occlusal view (mirror image)
 TAD in place with the prosthetic tooth placed over it to check for interference 

Fig 5: Prosthetic tooth placed firmly over the TAD

Treatment results

After the 3 months’ through the retention period, the TAD was placed. The radiographs showed fairly good response without any occlusal interference from the lower anteriors. There weren’t any any significant loosening, infection or damage to the underlying structures (fig. 6,7).

The shape and color of the prosthetic tooth had a significant matching to the adjacent teeth. This helped in avoiding a collapse of the facial fullness and her profile. Thus improving her smile and gaining her confidence drastically (fig. 5,8,9).

Fig 6: Occlusal Radiograph showing the TAD in place

Fig 7: Radiograph showing the TAD in place 

Fig 8: Facial photograph prior to TAD placement 

Fig 9: Facial photograph after firmly fixing the prosthetic tooth to the TAD

Conclusion

Treatment of congenitally missing anterior teeth by the use of TAD is fairly a new idea which has little supporting literature. Our idea and our credit goes to Dr. John Graham for his concept on bone preservation using TAD, which was presented in the AAO annual meet 2009.   

^® 3M IMTEC corporation

References

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