Interrelationship between Periodontics and Adult Orthodontics

There is a wide range of indications for orthodontic tooth movements aimed at improving the prognosis of malpositioned teeth in the mixed dentition and of teeth affected with periodontal disease. New regenerative periodontal treatment procedures (membrane technique, application of enamel matrix derivates) have provided greater opportunities for gaining new attachment and have improved the preorthodontic conditions for moving teeth into infrabony defects or for vertical movements of teeth with reduced bone support. The benefits and problems of a combined periodontal/orthodontic treatment approach are discussed with respect to preorthodontic mucosal grafting, guided tissue regeneration, loss of interdental gingiva, correction of crowding, reorienting of migrated and flared incisors, and gaining new abutment teeth by distalizing free-end premolars.