Remodeling of canines to the shape of lateral incisors by grinding: a long-term clinical and radiographic evaluation.

A long-term clinical and radiographic follow-up study was performed after extensive remodeling of the permanent teeth of 26 adolescent patients. The canines were ground to the shape of lateral incisors as part of the orthodontic treatment, and the patients were recalled after 10 to 15 years for clinical examinations. Grinding had been performed either unilaterally or bilaterally on 37 teeth. Unground canines or adjacent teeth served as control or reference teeth. Standardized intraoral radiographs were taken with a paralleling technique. Enamel surface replicas produced by epoxy resin in silicone impressions of the ground teeth were studied by stereomicroscopy. The long-term results were favorable. No significant color differences were observed in 36 of the 37 ground canines. Only one tooth displayed a generalized yellowish discoloration, probably the result of extensive pulp obliteration. There were no significant differences between ground and unground teeth with regard to mobility, reaction to percussion, or temperature sensitivity. Electric pulp testing revealed no statistically significant differences between test and control teeth. Radiographic changes were evident in two of the 37 ground canines. One tooth showed marked obliteration of the crown pulp, and in another tooth the pulp obliteration was almost complete. In the remaining 35 teeth no apparent differences were noted between the ground and unground teeth. In the stereomicroscope two of the ground labial surfaces showed evidence of scratches and grooves produced by the diamond instrument after more than 10 years' observation, but in all other instances the ground surfaces were indistinguishable from normal adult enamel surfaces. In conclusion, the present study has demonstrated that extensive cuspal, labial, lingual, and interproximal recontouring by the grinding of young teeth associated with orthodontic treatment can be performed without discomfort to the patients and with only minor or no long-term clinical and radiographic reactions.