Long-term treatment planning for single tooth implants: an orthodontic perspective

Although the traditional treatment planning options still exist whether to open or close space associated with a congenitally missing tooth, with the advent of implants, treatment planning for space opening has changed. Often there is a delay between the completion of orthodontic treatment and the placement of implants with a risk of bone loss occurring in the missing tooth space over the intervening years. A greater emphasis during treatment planning is now placed on the preservation of bone in the missing tooth space where space opening is indicated.