Forced Eruption of a Solitary Nonrestorable Tooth Using Mini-Implants as Anchorage: Rationale and Technique

Purpose: The need to place a restoration's margins on sound tooth material may require crown lengthening or forced eruption. The latter intervention may benefit from a severance of the tooth's circumferential fibers during the orthodontic process in an effort to stabilize the bone level. Orthodontic appliance design for the extrusive action, especially in the absence of neighboring teeth, may require the use of mini-implants, which are a useful adjunct in such situations. Materials and Methods: This case history describes the management of a maxillary left canine that lacked sound tooth material in the cervical zone for a proper ferrule. It was diagnosed as requiring extrusion so as to recruit it into an abutment role for a fixed partial denture design. This treatment modality was considered more favorable compared to the alternative of a crown lengthening procedure. The tooth in question was a strategic abutment in an old and failing porcelain-fused-to-metal fixed prosthesis. Results: Fiberotomy permitted rapid extrusion of the canine and available sound tooth margins for crown preparation with a proper ferrule. Conclusion: Following 28 days of tooth stabilization the implants were easily removed and treatment continued as originally planned.