Non-crown and bridge stabilization of severely mobile, periodontally involved teeth. A 25-year perspective.

It is the author's belief, after analyzing forces and stresses on the periodontium for more than 30 years, that stabilization of severely mobile teeth can retain teeth, if in health, almost indefinitely. Because these teeth are retained using restorative materials, recurrent caries is a problem that needs to be treated. Tooth loss resulting from caries can occur. In the author's 26 years of using extracoronal adhesive resins for splinting, the technology of adhesive bonding and restorative resins have been improved. Earlier shortcomings of the physical properties of these materials never dissuaded the author from recommending splinting. When the cases were presented to the patient and the referring dentist, the types of the current materials used to splint teeth were immaterial. Realizing that improvements in adhesives and resins would be developed, the near-hopeless teeth were retained. Because the elderly population is the fastest-growing segment of the population, caries control is more of a concern than it was 50 or more years ago. Because teeth are being retained longer in this cohort, and because caries has a greater potential to exist, supportive periodontal therapy and recalls and caries examination become more important.