Management of interdental papillae loss with forced eruption, immediate implantation, and root-form pontic.

BACKGROUND

A 25-year-old Asian woman complained of an unesthetic black triangle between her upper right front teeth. Defective interdental papillae may result from external root resorption, which makes esthetic restoration more difficult. A combined use of forced eruption, immediate implant placement, and a root-form pontic made a successful esthetic and functional restoration.

METHODS

The treatment sequences of this patient included short-term forced eruption, subsequent immediate implant placement after tooth extraction, and a provisional root-form pontic restoration. A final prosthesis was completed 6 months later, followed by clinical maintenance.

RESULTS

Papillae were augmented by forced eruption. After immediate implantation and root-form pontic placement had been performed, the peri-implant soft and hard tissues were manipulated and maintained in a stable state.

CONCLUSIONS

We successfully reconstructed the interdental papillae and replaced the deficient tooth with an immediate implantation. During 2 years of follow-up, the implant and peri-implant structures remained stable and healthy.