• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.329-338
• /
• 2014

Patients who lost molars from dental caries or periodontitis have difficulty in maintaining their vertical dimension because their incisors and premolars also show vertical tooth movement. Missing posterior molars leads to occlusal interference and collapse of occlusal plane due to extrusion of opposite teeth and tipping of adjacent teeth. When this condition persists over long time, mandible moves forward, so it causes mobility and labioversion of upper incisors. This progress cannot be stopped spontaneously and the situation gets worse and worse. Therefore, for a patient with pathologic teeth migration caused by chronic periodontitis, interdisciplinary approach which is including periodontal treatment, orthodontic teeth alignment and prosthetic restoration of missing molars is required. This case report shows successful multidisciplinary approach to a patient who lost vertical dimension due to severe dental caries and periodontitis.