The anatomical limit and strategies for molar movement during orthodontic treatment

Abstract

In many cases, tooth movement over a considerable distance is needed to meet the major goal of orthodontic treatment, which has always been to correct malocclusion and improve the facial profile in patients with skeletal malocclusion. However, tooth movement over a considerable distance also carries risks of dehiscence, fenestration, root exposure, and so forth. The reason lies in neglecting many limits for tooth movement, especially anatomical characteristics. This review focuses on structural limits for orthodontic molar movement, such as the alveolar cortex, the maxillary sinus floor, and the mandibular canal. In addition, we set the strategy in clinical orthodontics. For the alveolar cortex and the mandibular canal, orthodontists are recommended to move the root away from the cortical bone initially and formulate personalized molar movement plans according to clinical examination and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and other imaging examinations. First, the molar root was controlled by torque away from the bone plate, and then, the molar movement amount and direction were controlled according to the personalized movement path. In regard to the maxillary sinus floor, light and continuous forces and scientific biomechanics are suitable for bodily tooth movement. In summary, better therapeutic efficacy and long-term stabilization could be achieved by circumventing the limits and risks caused by anatomical limitations and characteristics.

Keywords

• orthodontic treatment ，
• anatomical limit ，
• molar movement ，
• fenestration ，
• dehiscence ，
• alveolar cortex ，
• maxillary sinus floor ，
• mandibular canal ，
• cone beam computed tomography，
• molar torque control ，
• biomechanics ，
• gingivectomy，