Osseointegrated implants as orthodontic anchorage in the treatment of partially edentulous adult patients.

In nine partially edentulous adult patients, mean age 47 years (range 17-64 years) 23 osseointegrated implants were used as orthodontic anchorage to perform the following types of orthodontic tooth movements: tipping, torquing, rotation, intrusion, extrusion, and those associated with bodily movements. The total orthodontic treatment period varied between 4 and 33 months (x = 17 months). Pre-operatively, at the start and end of orthodontic treatment, and at the annual controls, clinical as well as biometric and radiographic (panoramic, lateral cephalograms and periapical radiographs) recordings were performed. The osseointegrated anchorage units were used as reference points for measurements of two- and three-dimensional tooth movements with a co-ordinate machine. The 2-D tooth movements varied between 0.2 and 6.2 mm, whereas movements in the third dimension, extrusion and intrusion, ranged from 0.0 to 13.5 mm. The movement in space for the individual tooth was observed to be, as a mean, 3.9 mm (range 0.6-18.7 mm). However, the osseointegrated titanium implants (fixtures) used as orthodontic anchorage remained in position when orthodontically loaded for the various tooth movements. After completion of the orthodontic treatment the fixtures served as abutments for permanent prosthetic constructions.