Multidisciplinary treatment of congenitally missing maxillary lateral incisors: a case report

Abstract

Congenital tooth agenesis and tooth loss due to dental traumatism are some of the most common causes leading to rehabilitation of young patients with dental implants. The success of treating congenitally missing teeth with implant-supported prosthesis is no more guided only by osseointegration criteria. Nowadays the successful rehabilitation of these cases involves the adequate installation of dental implants with suitable prosthetic contour, color, and emergence profile closer to that found in natural dentition. Several treatment options are available for restoring patients with congenitally missing teeth such as maxillary lateral incisors. Fixed prosthodontics and orthodontics managements are considered acceptable treatment protocols. However, the gold standard rehabilitation of congenitally missing maxillary incisors is performed with implant-based prosthesis since no tooth wear neither extensive tooth movements are necessary. The present paper reports the treatment of a young adult woman with congenitally missing maxillary lateral incisors who underwent orthodontic treatment for improvement of teeth alignment and occlusal balance previous to dental implant surgery. This treatment also allowed appropriate space for the future lateral incisors crowns. Then, Morse-type conical implants were positioned and prosthetic abutments installed. Ceramic laminates were planned on central incisors in order to improve anterior aesthetics. All-ceramic crowns and laminates were made using lithium dissilicate-based ceramic (e-Max Press). The multidisciplinary association of orthodontic, implant and prosthetic techniques resulted in successful functional and aesthetic rehabilitation of the case, which was maintained after 1 year follow up.