Growth-enabling modified Groper appliance for the replacement of permanent maxillary incisors: Report of two cases

Volkan Arikan,Emre Cesur,Merve Akcay,Levent Ozer,Duygu Ocal,Ayse Tuba Altug

doi:10.21307/aoj-2020-013

Volkan Arikan, Emre Cesur + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.21307/aoj-2020-013

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Abstract

Abstract The aim of this case report is to introduce a modified Groper appliance that enables transverse growth of the maxilla in addition to improving the aesthetics of patients with missing anterior teeth. Patient 1 was a 16-year-old young woman in the late stages of growth who presented with a congenitally missing maxillary lateral incisor. Patient 2 was a nine-year-old girl missing both of her maxillary central incisors due to trauma. The missing teeth were replaced by artificial acrylic teeth bonded onto growth-enabling, maxillary, fixed palatal space maintainers. A tube was soldered onto one of the arch wires of the maintainer and the opposite arch wire was threaded into this tube, allowing it to slide until the patient completed growth. Intermolar width increased by approximately 1.9 mm in Patient 1 and 2.6 mm in Patient 2 over the three-year review period. The in-tube mechanical design of the device allowed transverse growth of the maxilla without interference during and throughout long-term wear.

Highlights

Treatment planning for patients affected by traumatised or congenitally missing teeth involves a detailed evaluation of the prognosis of the injured tooth and recovery of the edentulous space
For patients who are still growing, space maintainers are currently the most appropriate appliances available and can be used until the patient is ready for permanent prosthetics
These case reports describe the treatment of two patients with missing maxillary incisors managed by using a modified growth-enabling Groper appliance as a temporary space-maintaining option

Summary

Introduction

Treatment planning for patients affected by traumatised or congenitally missing teeth involves a detailed evaluation of the prognosis of the injured tooth and recovery of the edentulous space. Australasian Orthodontic Journal Volume 36 No 1 May 2020 can only be considered if the patient has completed growth.[7,8] For patients who are still growing, space maintainers are currently the most appropriate appliances available and can be used until the patient is ready for permanent prosthetics. These case reports describe the treatment of two patients with missing maxillary incisors managed by using a modified growth-enabling Groper appliance as a temporary space-maintaining option

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