Orthodontic extrusion of an extensively broken down anterior tooth: a clinical report

A predictable esthetic restoration is not limited to the restored teeth; it has to include the gingival unit and its interface with the teeth involved. Failure to deliver restorations that maintain gingival health jeopardizes the success of any restorative procedure and creates potential for periodontal problems. Perforations, fractures, root resorption, or caries in the cervical area of the tooth, especially in the anterior part of the mouth, present many challenges to the clinician. Failure to place the crown margins on sound tooth material may violate the biologic width and should be considered a restorative failure. Orthodontic root extrusion or forced eruption is a well-documented clinical method for altering the relation between a nonrestorable tooth and its attachment apparatus, elevating sound tooth material from within the alveolar socket. It has some advantages over surgical crown lengthening, which is less conservative considering the sacrifice of supporting bone and the negative change in the length of the clinical crowns of both the tooth and its neighbors. This article presents a case of a maxillary right lateral incisor, extensively broken down following trauma, treated with orthodontic extrusion combined with gingival fiberotomy, without a need for a corrective surgical procedure.