Clear Aligner Treatment as a Safe Method for Treating Occlusal Trauma in Elderly Patients

Abstract

The case report presents an interdisciplinary treatment of a 65-year-old patient in whom an improper zirconium oxide-based prosthetic crown on tooth 21 resulted in occlusal trauma, causing displacement and extrusion of the tooth as well as its increased mobility to the second degree according to the Miller scale. The change in the position of tooth 21 led to the displacement of the teeth in the lower arch. The traumatic occlusion was eliminated with a short clear aligner treatment of fourteen aligners (seven basic and seven additional) of both arches followed by aligner retention. The treatment lasted 140 days. A clinical improvement in the periodontal condition and long-term increased stabilization of the loose tooth was obtained. After one year of retention, the tooth is still stable, and no sign of periodontal disease or recurrence of the occlusal trauma is noticeable.