Hemisection in the Age of Dental Implants: A Case Report

With their popularity and documented success, dental implants have become a common treatment pathway that has allowed for the restoration of otherwise nonrestorable teeth. While dental implants are largely considered to be a modern marvel for treating prognostically difficult cases, advanced implant placement techniques can come with challenging drawbacks that may lead practitioners to explore other restorative options. Hemisection is a unique alternative to dental implants that practitioners can use to save a case where implants would be contraindicated. The case presented examines one such situation in which the patient was unable to undergo the surgery necessary for implant placement. A hemisection procedure enabled an otherwise hopeless situation to be salvaged and a fixed alternative to be provided. This procedure, while rarely considered, can be a viable treatment option in the clinician's armamentarium for fixed prosthodontic treatment planning in complex cases.