No abstract

Patients with congenitally missing lateral incisors often raise difficult treatment planning issues. Therefore, to produce the most predictable esthetic results, it is important to choose the treatment that will best address the initial diagnosis. This article is the first in a three-part series that describes the different treatments available for patients with congenitally missing lateral incisors. This first article focuses on canine substitution as a method of tooth replacement for these missing teeth. The general dentist will learn to evaluate specific patient selection criteria and determine whether canine substitution is an appropriate treatment alternative for replacing missing lateral incisors. The orthodontist will understand how to position the canines to satisfy functional requirements and achieve proper esthetics. Finally, the importance of interdisciplinary team treatment planning is emphasized as a requirement for achieving optimal final esthetics.

When treatment planning single-tooth implants to replace congenitally missing lateral incisors, an interdisciplinary approach is necessary to provide the most predictable treatment outcome.

Three treatment options exist for the replacement of congenitally missing lateral incisors: canine substitution, a tooth-supported restoration, or a single-tooth implant. Selecting the appropriate treatment option depends on the malocclusion, the anterior relationship, specific space requirements, and the condition of the adjacent teeth. The ideal treatment is the most conservative alternative that satisfies individual esthetic and functional requirements. This article closely examines the three options when replacing a missing lateral incisor with a tooth-supported restoration. These options are a resin-bonded fixed partial denture, a cantilevered fixed partial denture, and a conventional full-coverage fixed partial denture. The specific criteria that must be evaluated for each option is addressed to illustrate the importance of interdisciplinary treatment planning to achieve optimal esthetics and long-term predictability. This article is the second of a three-part series discussing the three treatment alternatives for replacing congenitally missing lateral incisors.

No abstract