Tooth movement and repositioning of the mandible without appliances

Abstract

Reactive positioning refers to the movement of either the teeth or the mandible to a more favorable position after appropriate treatment. This tooth movement is achieved without the use of appliances. The treatment of the patients in this report included supra- and subgingival scaling, coronal reshaping, root planing, light curettage, instruction in home care, and various techniques of periodontal surgery, but no osseous surgery. Reactive positioning of teeth has been reported in the following situations: Interproximal contacts of both anterior and posterior teeth were closed; cross-bite occlusion between one or two maxillary teeth and the opposing mandibular teeth was corrected; a cusp-to-fossa relation, with one or two mandibular posterior teeth completely lingual to their opposing teeth, was corrected; the positions of the teeth on the ridge were changed. Reactive positioning of the mandible can occur after deflective occlusal contacts from the retruded contact position to the intercuspal position are eliminated. In patients with acquired mesiocclusion, the mandible can be repositioned to an edge-to-edge anterior tooth position.