Dental Science & Advanced Dentistry

Biography

Biography: Maja Hočevar

Abstract

Traumatic dental injuries often occur as a result of an accident or sport injury and range from minor chipping to total tooth loss. Avulsion of permanent teeth is the most serious form of dental trauma and represent up to 1% of all dental injuries. Patients with missing anterior teeth may suffer extreme psychological trauma because of unfavorable appearance, phonetic handicap and reduced masticatory ability. Treatment of missing anterior teeth usually represent multidisciplinary clinical challenge and number of clinical factors should be considered. The main factors that influence the choice of therapy are edentulous ridge characteristics, gingival biotype, space conditions of the dental arch, occlusal scheme and patient expectations. Restorative treatment options depend on either to open or close the missing incisor space. In the case of orthodontic space closure, the adjacent teeth should be reshaped to mimic the missing incisor. The other option is to maintain the space for subsequent placement of an implant or some other form of prosthetic treatment. This clinical report describes a 19-year-old male with history of dental trauma who lost both permanent maxillary central incisors. Clinical examination and radiographic findings revealed insufficient bucco-palatal bone ridge which did not allow implant placement in the site of the missing maxillary central incisor. Orthodontic space closure of missing maxillary central incisor with lateral incisors was made and space opening in the site of lateral incisor was maintained for later implant placement. Final prosthodontic treatment included all-ceramic crowns in a position of all four maxillary incisors.