Intrusion of a Non-Splinted Tooth Surrounded by Free-Standing Dental Implants: A New Phenomenon

The popularity of dental implants as a solution for missing teeth continues to grow, and so do the challenges associated with them. The intrusion of a natural tooth adjacent to a non-splinted dental implant is one such challenge recently observed in implant prostheses. In this comprehensive review, we delve into several potential theories that could elucidate the reasons behind tooth intrusion adjacent to a lone-standing dental implant.

The following search terms were used for the data search: (dental implant) AND (intrusion of natural tooth). Articles written only in the English language in PubMed, Scopus, and Embase databases ranging from 1987-2023 were scrutinized and only 6 articles were included in the review.

Freestanding implants surrounding the intruded teeth are an uncommon occurrence that can be caused by extremely tight proximal contacts that are below the height of the contour of adjacent implants. Given the absence of a periodontal ligament in implants, their response to pressure is limited, resulting in minimal movement. However, the tooth in between them could still undergo apical intrusion. The achievement of proper proximal contact of prostheses is crucial when a natural tooth is located between implant-supported prostheses. To restore the tooth's proper contours and proximal contacts, it's suggested that the proximal contacts first be relieved. This will allow the tooth to erupt again. Clinicians need to be aware of this phenomenon and should be ready to treat it if it occurs.