Orthodontic intrusion of posterior teeth using dental implant anchorage.

Premature loss of posterior teeth due to caries or periodontal disease can quickly lead to extrusion of the opposing teeth if immediate prosthetic replacement is not performed. When the extrusion is caused by infraclusion, occlusal interferences during lateral excursion must be eliminated. Grinding the crown is an efficient way to correct molar extrusion, but it requires initial endodontic treatment if the enamel loss will extend as far as the dentin. A more conservative treatment approach involves orthodontic intrusion of the extruded tooth. Most methods of preprosthetic intrusion, however, result in reciprocal extrusive movement of the anchorage teeth. The present article describes orthodontic intrusion using an adjacent dental implant as anchorage.