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Periodontal considerations in orthodontic treatment

* Rajashekar, **Amal S. Nair, ** Shino P . Mathew

The goal of orthodontic treatment is not only to improve facial esthetics and function but also to address to the health of supporting structures and how teeth are placed in them. No matter how talented the orthodontist is, a magnificent orthodontic correction can be destroyed by failure to recognize periodontal susceptibility. Both the short and long ter m successful outcomes of orthodontic treatment are influenced by the patients periodontal status before, during and after active orthodontic therapy, which also includes post treatment maintenance by the patient. Periodontal pathogenesis is a multifactorial etiologic process and the orthodontist must recognize the clinical forms of inflammatory periodontal diseases. Co-operation between different specialties in dentistry is extremely important in establishing diagnosis as well as in treatment planning. One such interaction exists between orthodontics and periodontics. The interrelationship between orthodontics and periodontics often resembles symbiosis. In many cases, periodontal health is improved by orthodontic tooth movement, whereas orthodontic tooth movement is often facilitated by periodontal therapy. Basic tooth movements and

periodontal changes: Orthodontic treatment is based on the premise that when force is applied to a tooth it is transmitted to the adjacent investing tissues, certain structural alterations take place within these tissues which allow for, and contribute to tooth movement. Intrusion Intrusion alters the cementoenamel junction and angular crest relationships, and creates only epithelial root attachment: therefore a periodontally susceptible patient is at greater risk of future periodontal breakdown. Tooth movement, when properly executed, improves periodontal condition and is beneficial to periodontal health. Orthodontic forces, when kept within biological limits, do not induce tissue alterations leading to loss of connective tissue attachment and periodontal pocket formation. The gingiva moves in the same direction as that of tooth intrusion but it moves only by about 60%. Gingival sulcus gets deepened by about 40% of tooth intrusion. Indications: 1. It is indicated for teeth with horizontal bone loss. 2. For increasing the clinical crown length of single teeth. Since orthodontic movement of teeth into inflamed infrabony

pockets may create an additional periodontal destruction, and because infrabony pockets are frequently found at teeth that have been tipped or elongated as a result of periodontal disease, it is essential that periodontal treatment with elimination of the plaque induced lesion be performed before the initiation of orthodontic treatment. Maintenance of excellent oral hygiene during the course of treatment is equally important. Extrusion Extrusion or eruption of a tooth or several teeth, along with reduction of the clinical crown height is reported to reduce infrabony defects and decrease pocket depth. Extrusion of an individual tooth is used specifically for correction of isolated periodontal osseous lesions. Studies have shown that extrusion in the absence of gingival inflammation reduces bleeding on probing, decreases pocket depth and even causes formation of new bone at the alveolar crest as the tooth erupts, with no occlusal factor present. The improved periodontal condition resulting from extrusion may have been due to both physiologic and microbiologic changes in the local environment. The subgingival microbial plaque may have been converted to a supragingival plaque by the extrusive tooth movement, thereby

* Professor, ** Reader, Department of Or thodontics, Sree Mookambika Institute of dental sciences, Kulashekaram, Tamilnadu, India


KDJ Vol. 35 No. 1 Supplement February 2012

Periodontal considerations in orthodontic treatment

lessening its pathogenicity and effect on gingival tissues. Forced eruption: 1. It helps to save an isolated tooth in which caries, trauma, or iatrogenesis have destroyed the clinical crown by bringing the fractured, diseased or prepared margins of the neck of the tooth more coronally to reestablish biological width. 2. Although forced eruption is associated with an increase in the width of attached gingiva, mucogingival junction remains unaltered. 3. Fibrotomy, which is done before active eruption, is essential for success of the procedure. 4. For shallowing out of isolated intraosseous defects. 5. Increase clinical crown length of single teeth.

recommended surgical removal of the excess gingival tissue that appears in papillary form buccally and lingually between the teeth that have moved together. Traumatic occlusion and orthodontic treatment: Studies indicate that traumatic occlusion forces 1. do not produce gingival inflammation or loss of attachment in pts with healthy periodontium 2. do not ag gravate and cause spread of gingivitis 3. May aggravate an active periodontitis lesion i.e. may be a co-destructive factor 4. May lead to less gain of attachment after periodontal treatment. The importance of reducing jiggling of teeth after orthodontic treatment of patients with moderate or advanced periodontitis may be significant 1. Studies demonstrate that bone dehiscences caused by jiggling forces will regenerate after elimination of trauma. 2. Occlusal adjustments may be a factor in the healing of periodontal defects, especially bone defects. Abnormal frenum and muscle pull has been considered detrimental to periodontal health by pulling away the gingival margin from the tooth contributing to accumulation of plaque and calculus, and leading to inflammation and pocket formation. Adequate depth of the vestibule has been similarly held significant. Several surgical procedures to deepen the vestibule as well as to reduce the height of frenal attachments have been developed as preventive therapeutic measures. Occasionally in the developing dentition, abnormal frenal or muscle attachments may extend onto the crest of the alveolar ridge. The erupting tooth may pass through the alveolar gingiva and be deficient in keratinized tissue. Surgical recession will ensure normal eruption of the tooth with adequate attached gingiva.
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Relapse tendencies exist in a fairly high percentage of treated malocclusion and it is greatest for rotation corrections. The fibrous elements of the periodontal ligament adapt to tooth movement in possibly 3 mechanisms: 1. Progressive osteogenic and cementogenic activity plays an active role in the shortening of the extended fibers during tooth movement. 2. The stretching of the wavy collagen fibers and reorientation of their directional morphology permits a certain amount of tooth movement. 3. The existence of a type of intermediate plexus might allow an elongation of fiber bundles by slippage of the fibers over one another and a subsequent reorientation of the fibers in a new position. Space closure: After orthodontic closure of an extraction site with a fixed appliance, the gingival tissue as a rule becomes hyperplastic when the space diminishes. The teeth that are moved together thereby push the gingiva in front of them, and a fold or invagination of epithelium and connective tissue is for med. Edwards has


Orthodontic force and labial recession: Teeth having adequate attached gingiva occasionally develop localized recession during treatment. It has generally been assumed that such destruction has been associated with excessive force that has not permitted repair and remodeling of alveolar bone.

Gingivoplasty is the reshaping of gingiva to create physiologic gingival contours, for the sole purpose of recontouring the gingiva in the absence of pockets. Gingival and periodontal diseases often produce deformities in the gingiva that interferes with normal food excursion, collect plaque and food debris and aggravate the disease process.

mechanical stretching of pre existing bone tissue. A new concept of distracting the PDL is proposed to elicit canine retraction in 3 weeks. This is called dental distraction. The PDL acts as a suture between the bone and the tooth. Changes in the periodontal ligament on the mesial side of the canine can be classified into 1. stretching and widening of the PDL 2. active growth of new bone spicules in the distracted PDL during the second week 3. Recovery of the distracted PDL during the fourth week. 4. remodeling of striated bone from the fourth week to the third month after distraction 5. maturation of the striated bone

Methods to reduce of relapse of orthodontically treated teeth, especially rotated teeth include 1. Complete correction or over correction of rotated teeth. 2. Stable long term retention with bonded lingual retainers. 3. Use of fibrotomy.

Adult orthodontics:
The changes that are seen in the PDL as a result of ageing are 1. IN GINGIVA 1. Diminished keratinisation 2. Reduced stippling 3. Increased width of attached gingiva 4. Decreased connective tissue cellularity 5. Increased intercellular substance 6. Reduced oxygen consumption 7. Thinning of oral epithelium 8. Atrophy of connective tissue with loss of elasticity 2. IN PERIODONTAL LIGAMENT 1. Increased elastic fibers 2. Decreased vascularity 3. Decreased mitotic activity 4. An increase in the width of the ligament 3. IN ALVEOLAR BONE AND CEMENTUM 1. Osteoporosis 2. Decreased vascularity

Hyperplastic types of frenum with fan shaped attachment may obstruct diastema closure and hence surgical intervention is desirable. In the past frenectomy was undertaken. The complication with frenectomy is that the complete removal of the frenum may result in gingival recession between the central incisors. Hence frenotomy with only partial removal of the frenum with the purpose of relocating the attachment in a more apical direction is currently undertaken. Tissue healing is uneventful although some scarring may occur.

Distraction osteogenesis of the periodontal ligament

DO is the process of growing new bone by
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Periodontal considerations in orthodontic treatment

3. Decrease in healing capacity 4. Continuous increase in the amount of cementum Adult patients present a challenge to orthodontists because they have high esthetic demands and they often have dental conditions that may complicate treatment, such as tooth wear, poorly contoured restorations and periodontal diseases. Advanced periodontal disease may cause pathologic tooth migration involving a single tooth or a group of teeth. The sequelae may be tipping and extrusion of one or several incisors, and development of a single diastema or multiple spacing of the front teeth. In such cases orthodontic treatment may be required for cosmetic reasons to attain an aligned front tooth segment. Changes in pdl during orthodontic treatment: Potential benefits of orthodontic treatment: 1. Improved width of attached gingiva especially when moving a labially positioned tooth lingually. 2. Induction of bone formation 3. Can re-establish biologic width in teeth with subgingival restoration margins by forced eruption. 4. Closure of spaces of extracted teeth may help prevent periodontal disease complications Harmful effects: Gingival and periodontal changes related to orthodontic treatment are, in general, transient with no permanent damage. However, lengthy orthodontic treatment, accompanied with sustained poor oral hygiene leads to gingival and periodontal damage. The deleterious effects include gingivitis, gingival hyperplasia, marginal periodontitis, gingival recession at extraction sites, loss of attachment, interdental clefts, especially at vestibular aspects of extracted mandibular premolars, reduced width of keratinized gingiva, marginal bone loss and apical root resorption. Changes in pdl following orthodontics: Periodontal tissues adapt to teeth that are moved orthodontically along the dental arch. Furthermore, experimental studies have shown that orthodontic tooth movements along the arch will not result in loss of periodontal support provided the gingival tissue is kept free of inflammation. Dentitions with reduced periodontal support show

a marked tendency to return to their pretreatment position following active appliance therapy. Thus, semipermanent or permanent retention may be required. Thin, flexible spiral wire bonded to the lingual surface of each tooth in a segment may represent a simple and effective way of retaining realigned front teeth. Long-term effects of orthodontic treatment on periodontal health: While no differences were obser ved in the prevalence of moderate to severe periodontal disease, the orthodontic group manifested a greater prevalence of mild to moderate periodontal disease than the control group in the maxillary posterior and mandibular anterior regions of the mouth. A greater prevalence of mild to moderate periodontal disease was found in the posterior regions of the mouth in those orthodontic patients whose treatment included extractions than in those treated without extractions. Mucogingival problems were found with similar frequency in the orthodontically treated and control subjects and no differences in this regard were observed between orthodontic patients whose treatment involved extractions and those treated without extractions. Preventive program for orthodontic patients: Before orthodontic treatment: 1. control active periodontal disease and caries 2. Risks of treatment have to be explained to the patient. Awareness of the existing problem and the possible complications that may arise during treatment must be explained. During orthodontic treatment: 1. Emphasis on oral hygiene. 2. brushing instructions. 3. check plaque removal effectiveness 4. periodic periodontal evaluation and check up After orthodontic treatment 1. Patient must be motivated to maintain good oral hygiene. 2. Maintenance of routine dental check ups.

KDJ Vol. 35 No. 1 Supplement February 2012