Mucogingival considerations and labial movement of lower incisors in orthodontic patients: A comprehensive review

During the last years advances in experimental and clinical studies in oral biology have dramatically changed many treatment concepts concerning periodontal tissues. Also, advances in orthodontics, particularly in bone biology, tooth movement and mucogingival alterations, have significant clinical implications. The direction and the amount of tooth movement seem to change the position and the dimension of periodontal tissue margin. Lingual tooth movement will result in an increased thickness of the tissue at the labial aspect of the tooth and decreased clinical crown length. On the other hand, alterations in the periodontal tissue during labial movement of the lower incisors, which is a valuable alternative procedure to extraction therapy, are associated with conflicting literature views. Aim of this review is to provide the clinicians with up-to-date information concerning the influence of tooth movement on the mucogingival complex.