Minimally invasive orthodontics: elastodontic therapy in a growing patient affected by Dentinogenesis Imperfecta

The aim of the study was to report the use of an elastodontic therapy in a growing patient affected by Dentinogenesis Imperfecta, second class malocclusion, deep bite and lower arch crowding from the deciduous dentition to permanent one.

At first, the 5-year-old patient was treated with an elastodontic device known as "Nite-Guide". When the patient was 7 years old, during her first permanent molars and incisors eruption and after optimal house-practices, an Occlus-o-Guide Series G was placed at night and on daylight (two hours a day) performing exercises aimed to activate facial muscles and facilitate the deep bite reopening. At 9 years of age, with totally deep bite resolution, she used the Occluso-Guide only at night to hold down previous results and follow patient's dental growth. At 11 years of age, after successful teeth switching, we prescribed an Occlus-o-Guide Series N, which is functional for permanent dentition and guaranteed an eruptive guide for last dental elements.

This clinic case could be considered an example of approach for all those patients with systemic and/or dental diseases that do not allow adequate dental retention, which is necessary for most orthodontic appliances; elastodontic devices do not require adequate dental retention and define a minimum intervention on the surfaces of the teeth.