Measurements of Tooth Movements in Relation to Single‐Implant Restorations during 16 Years: A Case Report

Background: Osseointegrated implants behave as ankylotic abutments, and their positions are not affected by dentofacial changes. Purpose: To measure changes in occlusion in relation to single implants in one patient after more than 15 years in function. Materials and Methods: One 25‐year‐old female was treated with two single implants in the upper central incisor and bicuspid area after trauma. Study casts made prior to treatment (1987) and after 16 years in function (2004) were scanned by means of an optical scanner. Using the palate as the reference, the models were placed in the same coordinate system and analyzed and compared in a computer‐aided design (CAD) program. The results of the measurements of the casts were also compared with clinical photographs taken at the time of treatment (1988), after 9 years (1997), and after 16 years (2004) in function. Results: The clinical photographs showed obvious signs of implant infraposition after 9 years. New crowns were made in the incisor region after 15 years (2002), but signs of infraposition were again present at the final examination (2004). Measurements of the casts indicated small tooth movements with a pattern of slight eruption of upper teeth combined with a palatal inclination, mesial drift, and lingual inclination and crowding of the lower anterior teeth. The small measured vertical eruption of the teeth was less than the observed clinical infraposition of the implant crowns, indicating that the vertical position of the palatal may have changed in relation to the implants as well. Conclusion: Obvious dentofacial changes may take place in adult patients. Teeth may adjust for this, and no major problems may arise in the dentate patient. However, because the positions of implants are not affected by dentofacial changes, other patterns of clinical problems can be seen when implant patients present with these changes. The character and frequency of these dentofacial changes that may compromise implant treatment in the long term are not yet known.