“Implant Interactions inOrthodontics”

            Theadvent and success of implantology continues to transform dentistry, and theinclusion of implants as integral components in orthodontic mechanotherapy is aparticularly interesting application. Historically, orthodontics has played a preparatory role to implantplacement, by virtue of aligning teeth to permit proper spacial relations forimplant placement, which occurs subsequently.  More recently, orthodontic modalities designed to altertissue morphology, both hard and soft, have begun to be realized.  In these two ways, orthodontic sitepreparation for implant placement has become an important modality to consider.

Perhaps even more interestingly, orthodontic techniques thatactually employ implants for the purpose of anchorage can have a dramaticeffect on previously unattainable possibilities and outcomes.  Implant-enhanced orthodontics can beachieved by a variety of means, but can be broken down to direct or indirectanchorage.  Various devices andapplications of these modalities exist, and are expanding continually.  The ultimate extension of this thinkingwill be when implants that are designed specifically for orthodontic purposes,never destined to be restored but rather explanted, are utilized strictly fororthodontic advantage. This technology exists presently, and the use of suchdevices promises to have dramatic impact on the practice of orthodontics, bothin terms of new outcomes and the sequencing by which to achieve them.