Selective osteotomy-assisted molar uprighting and simultaneous ridge augmentation for implant site development

Orthodontic treatment to upright an inclined molar adjacent to an edentulous space is often necessary before implant placement. The implant site may also require a ridge augmentation if the bony volume is not sufficient. The time required for both treatment steps can be lengthy and can discourage patients from accepting dental implants. This case report presents a novel interdisciplinary approach to implant site development. Selective osteotomy and simultaneous ridge augmentation were performed on the bilateral mesially inclined second molars before orthodontic uprighting. The severely inclined second molars were uprighted in 5 months, and the enhanced implant sites were ready for implant placement without complications. A finite element analysis revealed that the osteotomy partially affected the biomechanical responses of the dentoalveolar structures during molar uprighting.