Fifth alternative for replacement of maxillary first molar.

There are occasions when the patient is missing only one first molar or the first molar is slated for an odontectomy (extraction). Most of the time, there are only four common avenues for replacement: partial removable prosthesis, Maryland bridge, ceramic or ceramic to metal fixed prosthesis and osseo-integrated implant supported crown. In this article, the author discusses the least common avenue for replacement of missing maxillary first molar--an orthodontic closure. He discusses and demonstrates; Maximum, Medium and Minimum Anchorage strategies on acrylic models. Preserving the anchorage is necessary for successful execution of this orthodontic procedure. This demonstration is followed by presentation of the actual case.