Alternative treatment approach for anterior subgingival dental lesions: Forced eruption using attractive magnets

Abstract

This article reports the use of a minimally invasive technique to address a challenging clinical problem in the esthetic zone. The clinical steps taken to achieve forced eruption by 1.5-2.0 mm of a maxillary central incisor that presented minimal clinical crown because of caries are described in detail. This subsequently allowed the successful placement of a crown. The tooth was extruded by forces generated between 2 neodymium-iron-boron magnets. One was affixed to the palatal surface of the tooth, and the other was embedded in a thermoformed splint. Weekly circumferential supracrestal fiberotomies were performed to enable extrusion without osseous migration. The extrusion was clinically and radiographically detectable after 6 weeks of magnetic force application. After an initial retention period of 8 weeks, the maxillary incisors were restored with lithium-disilicate ceramic veneers and crowns.