Role of orthodontic extrusion in an interdisciplinary treatment approach. Review and case report

Traumatic injuries in the oral cavity are a common phenomenon. Crown and crown-root fractures of anterior teeth account for a majority of these injuries. Usually, treatment of such cases requires an interdisciplinary approach for complete rehabilitation. Crown-root and/or root fracture in anterior teeth, especially in the cervical region, with fracture line below the gingival attachment or alveolar bone crest presents restorative difficulties. They are the most clinically challenging cases and present the clinician with dilemmas, as there is no single well-defined treatment protocol for such cases. Re-establishment of proper aesthetics and function in the anterior teeth is quite important, and orthodontic extrusion can be a suitable treatment option for fractures below the gingival attachment or alveolar bone crest. The following case reports describe the interdisciplinary management of subgingival tooth fractures, emphasising the importance and role of orthodontic extrusion in restoring and rehabilitating the teeth to their normal aesthetics and function. Keywords: biological width, crown-root fractures, gingival fiberotomy, orthodontic extrusion, prefabricated posts, relapse