Using loop connectors as an interim mode of treatment: An interdisciplinary approach.
To tackle a large midline diastema and generalized spacing existing before extraction often poses a challenge to the treating prosthodontist. The situation becomes even more complicated if the patient is a teenager, with multiple missing teeth, associated deep bite and where the jaw bone growth has not yet been completed. Possible treatment options would include a removable prosthesis, a fixed partial denture or an implant supported prosthesis. Treating such cases with a simple removable prosthesis cannot be justified if a deep bite existed which would result in posterior disocclusion. Also a conventional fixed partial denture or closure of the diastema with light cure composite (LCC), would result in a seemingly large tooth, which would be unaesthetic in appearance. Implant supported prosthesis is a possibility, if the patient's jaw bone growth has been completed. Another simple non-invasive solution to this problem would be to fabricate a non-rigid connector using loops. This presentation describes the procedure for fabrication of an interim loop connector for a 16 year old female patient who had lost one of her maxillary central incisors as a result of trauma. Patient also had multiple spacing in the maxillary anterior teeth and an associated deep bite. Her cephalogram revealed that she had a Class III skeletal pattern. A permanent treatment at this stage was not possible due to ontoward mandibular growth pattern as revealed on the cephalogram. Hence to dodge all these problems, a simple and non-invasive treatment using loop connectors was chosen till the growth period was completed.
Department of Prosthodontics and Crown and Bridges and Implantology, Pushpagiri College of Dental Sciences, Thiruvalla, Pathanamthitta, Kerala, India.
T Aby
TA
Mathew
Department of Prosthodontics and Crown and Bridges and Implantology, Pushpagiri College of Dental Sciences, Thiruvalla, Pathanamthitta, Kerala, India.
Ashwin Thomas
AT
Koshy
Department of Prosthodontics and Crown and Bridges and Implantology, Pushpagiri College of Dental Sciences, Thiruvalla, Pathanamthitta, Kerala, India.
Annie Susan
AS
Thomas
Department of Prosthodontics and Crown and Bridges and Implantology, Pushpagiri College of Dental Sciences, Thiruvalla, Pathanamthitta, Kerala, India.
Angel Mary
AM
Joseph
Department of Prosthodontics and Crown and Bridges and Implantology, Pushpagiri College of Dental Sciences, Thiruvalla, Pathanamthitta, Kerala, India.
Nicholas
N
Mathew
D000293:Adolescent; D002508:Cephalometry; D003779:Denture Design; D003781:Denture Retention; D003830:Denture, Partial, Fixed; D003832:Denture, Partial, Removable; D003970:Diastema / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor; D057887:Overbite; D023861:Photography, Dental; D014081:Tooth Extraction