Evaluation of adjacent tooth displacement in the posterior implant restoration with proximal contact loss by superimposition of digital models

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate patterns of adjacent tooth displacement in the posterior implant with interproximal contact loss (ICL) by 3-D digital superimposition method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Posterior partially edentulous patients, restored with implant fixed partial prostheses before 2011 and suffered from food impaction of ICL between 2009 and 2011, were included. Two dental casts, at the time of delivery and at the time of food impaction in a same patient, was converted into 3-D digital models through scanning and superimposition was performed to assess chronologic changes of the dentition. Directions of tooth displacement were evaluated and the amount of ICL was calculated. Correlations between the amount of ICL and elapsed time, or between the amount of ICL and age after function, were assessed at a significance level of P<.05. RESULTS: A total number of 13 patients (8 males, 5 females) with a mean age of 65.76 ± 9.94 years and 17 areas (4 maxillae, 13 mandibles) were included in this retrospective study. Teeth adjacent to the implant restoration showed complex displacements but characteristic tendency according to the location of the arch. The mean amount of ICL was 0.33 ± 0.14 mm. Elapsed time from function to ICL was 61.47 ± 31.27 months. There were no significant differences between the amount of ICL and elapsed time, or age (P>.05). CONCLUSION: Natural teeth showed various directional movements to result in occlusal change in the arch. The 3-D superimposition of chronologic digital models was a helpful method to analyze the changes of dentition and individual tooth displacement adjacent to implant restoration.