Molar intrusion with implants using a bite plane appliance: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Orthodontic forces for tooth intrusion ought to be continuous and low, which may be achieved with the help of osseointegrated implants.

PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to describe a method to intrude supererupted maxillary molars using interarch intrusion mechanics (a bite plane appliance) with implants and to assess anchor implant stability through resonance frequency analysis (RFA; Osstell, Mentor version 2, Integration Diagnostics AB, Göteborg, Sweden) in comparison with nonanchorage control implants during orthodontic intrusion.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 48-year-old female patient was treated with implants (36 and 37 regions, Brånemark Implant System, MkIII TiUNite, Nobel Biocare AB, Göteborg, Sweden; lengths, 13 and 10 mm; diameter, 5 mm) serving as orthodontic anchorage for intrusion of supraerupted teeth in the maxilla (teeth 26 and 27) using a bite plane appliance. The force of intrusion applied was individual discontinuous bite force in the present case. The control implants were in the sites 45, 46, and 47 with healing abutments out of loading. Stability of both the anchorage and control implants was assessed by RFA from the commencement of orthodontic intrusion (7 months after the first-stage surgery) to the end of the study (19 months after the first-stage surgery). Marginal bone height measurements of both implants were performed on radiographs at the same time.

RESULTS: The treatment was completed without complications or abnormalities of the intruded teeth or the opposite anchorage implants. However, implant stability quotient values of the anchored implants obviously changed during the initial 4 months after commencement of intrusion compared with control implants. In the present case, an intrusion of 2.2 mm was achieved in 12 months.

CONCLUSIONS: The present method made it possible to intrude molars successfully. However, further studies with more cases are needed to clarify the reliability of the method and determine how to control the bite forces applied as orthodontic load.