What is a potential complication when connecting natural teeth to implants?

Connecting natural teeth to implants can lead to the potential complication known as intrusion of the natural tooth. This occurs because the forces and pressures applied during occlusion (chewing and biting) may be transferred differently than they would be in a completely natural dentition. When natural teeth are connected to implants, which are rigid and immovable, the natural teeth might experience altered forces that can lead to their movement, particularly intrusion, as they may be unable to accommodate the new forces effectively.

This interplay can compromise the periodontal support of the natural tooth, leading to changes in its position over time. The risk of intrusion is significant because the implant is anchored in the bone and does not move like a natural tooth would, which has periodontal ligament support. Consequently, if there is an imbalance in the forces acting on the natural tooth due to the rigidity of the implant connection, this can result in the tooth being pushed into the alveolar bone, effectively causing it to intrude.

Understanding this complication is important for the successful integration of implants in a treatment plan involving natural teeth, as it emphasizes the need for careful assessment and planning in the occlusal design when connecting implants with natural teeth.