Orthodontic movement into infrabony defects in patients with advanced periodontal disease: a clinical and radiological study

In cases of advanced periodontal disease with a pathologic flaring of frontal teeth, a combined periodontic-orthodontic therapy may be a reliable approach in order to solve both functional and esthetic problems. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the periodontal tissue alterations following periodontal surgery and orthodontic intrusion in migrated upper central incisors with intrabony defects.

Ten patients with advanced periodontal disease and an extruded maxillary central incisor infrabony defect at its mesial aspect and probing depth (PD) > or = 6 mm were included in the present study. At baseline, PD and clinical attachment level (CAL) were measured. The vertical and horizontal dimensions of the defects were assessed on standardized radiographs. Seven to 10 days after surgery the active orthodontic treatment started using the segmented arch technique, in order to intrude and move the teeth into the defects. Maintenance therapy was performed every 2 to 3 months until the orthodontic treatment was completed.

At the end of treatment, mean PD reduction was 4.35 mm, with a residual mean PD of 2.80 mm. Mean CAL gain was 5.50 mm. The mean radiological vertical and horizontal bone fills were, respectively, 1.35 mm and 1.40 mm. All differences were of statistical significance (P<0.001).

The present study showed that the combined orthodontic and periodontic therapy performed resulted in the realignment of extruded teeth with infrabony defects, obtaining a significant probing depth reduction, clinical attachment gain, and radiological bone fill.