DENTAL PROSTHESIS POST ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT - A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

Abstract

With adults now comprising one-half of the orthodontic patients, now challenges are being presented to orthodontists. Mutilated dentition presents various challenges for treatment and requires a multi-disciplinary approach for treatment. This investigation aimed to calculate the prevalence of patients needing dental prosthesis post-orthodontic treatment in the south Indian population.Data for 665 case records were collected. The treatment plan for these cases was studied. A note of cases was made where the treatment plan mentioned the need for dental prosthesis post-treatment. The records were reviewed in detail and their treatment plan was evaluated. 31 cases were identified. The reason for tooth loss was recorded. The attending postgraduate for each case was interviewed. The collected data was reviewed by the second investigator. The data were tabulated into an excel spreadsheet. Pie charts were prepared and the prevalence was calculated. The investigation identified the prevalence to be 4.73%. Tooth loss is a major cause of tooth loss followed by periodontal disease. There was a small percentage of cases where tooth loss was a result of failed orthodontic treatment.In some cases, orthodontic treatment can utilize existing space and tooth material to close edentulous spaces. At times anatomic and other factors limit this approach. Thus at the end, the orthodontist's role reverts to aligning the existing tooth material and preparing the occlusion to receive the prosthesis.