“Missing” is used here as a metaphor referring to any tooth absent from the dental arches at a time it was supposed to be visible. This may result from congenitally tooth agenesis, but also from impaction or routine tooth extraction.
This non-conventional way of defining missing teeth justifies the use of Quote marks. However, it’s noteworthy that the consequences are almost the same when it comes to esthetic and function.
This paper will explore all the clinical aspects of orthodontic management of “missing” teeth especially in the context of developing countries.
Learning objectives :
- Recognize the esthetic and functional consequences of “missing” teeth
- Know the orthodontist’s role in the interdisciplinary planning of the treatment
- Understand the indication for space closure and space opening in the management of congenitally missing incisors
- Know how to intrude overerupted maxillary molars using miniscrew anchorage
- Understand how to deal with associated teeth migration
