Orthodontic therapy for the restorative patient. Part II: The esthetic aspects

By incorporating orthodontics and other specialty disciplines into the restorative and prosthodontic treatments for the adult patient presenting for improvement or enhancement of esthetics, the dentist can correct reverse over-lapped (cross-bite) relationships, retrieve and reposition unerupted (impacted) anterior teeth, and improve irregular smile lines in three dimensions. The correction or improvement of incisal guidance, incisal planes, root proximity, and embrasure spaces will enhance long-term stability and successful prognoses. This article discusses several of the daily challenges encountered by the restorative dentist regarding malposed teeth in the anterior portion of the oral cavity. By using established principles of orthodontic therapy, composite resin bonding of brackets, improved wire technology, polymer plastic force modules, and additional advances in the methods of repositioning the malposed teeth, the necessary corrections can be made.