Forced orthodontic eruption of fractured teeth before implant placement: Case report

The treatment of esthetic areas with single-tooth implants represents a new challenge for the clinician. Placement of a single-unit implant is indicated for fractured or periodontally compromised teeth. In 1993, a modification of the forced eruption technique, called "orthodontic extrusive remodelling," was proposed as a way to augment both soft- and hard-tissue profiles at potential implant sites. This case report describes augmentation of the coronal soft and hard tissues around a fractured tooth, which was achieved by forced orthodontic extrusion before implant placement. This technique may be used to improve primary anchorage of a dental implant, fill the alveolar socket with bone, preserve interdental bone height and increase the amount of attached gingiva.