Agenesis of Maxillary Lateral Incisors: Treatment Involves Much More Than Just Canine Guidance

A- Age

Teenagers with late mixed dentition or newly developed permanent dentition are often seeking treatment for congenital absence of maxillary lateral incisors, because during this period the esthetic problem becomes more evident [3, 14-17]. The professional’s decision to maintain or open the space through orthodontic correction implies waiting the end of craniofacial growth before completing a definitive rehabilitation treatment, particularly if this is an implant-supported prosthesis [18-22].

During this period that can last several years, a temporary (preferably fixed) prosthodontics should be installed in those cases scheduled for implant placement [7, 10, 23]. The longer the time elapsed between the completion of orthodontic treatment and placement of the implant, the greater the risk of atrophy of the alveolar ridge [24] and the roots adjacent to the space moving once again closer together [23]. In the first case, additional bone graft surgical procedures may be necessary [25]; in the second one, a fixed orthodontic appliance may have to be placed once more, to restore parallelism and adequate space between the roots of the teeth adjacent to the future implant recipient bed [23].

On the other hand, implant restorations in the anterior maxilla represent a challenge in terms of proper esthetic results, particularly in the gingival contour aspect [19, 20, 25]. And even when a good immediate result is achieved [26, 27], one can expect that, over the years, there will be misalignment, both gingivally and on the incisal edge, between the implant crown and the teeth adjacent to it resulting from the continuous eruption of natural teeth [19, 20, 28]. In addition, the incisors will be uprighted over the years, which can cause a virtual protrusion of the implant crown [26, 29].

In contrast, closure of the orthodontic space through mesially moved canine can be performed even before the end of dental development, because it takes advantage of the flexibility and metabolism of young, growing bones [9, 16]. The key word is result “predictability” thanks to the treatment option involving space closure and the use of natural teeth [16, 25]. In addition, it is important that the treatment ends during adolescence, as this exerts a positive impact on individual self-esteem and social acceptance without the need to use temporary prosthodontics [30].

B- Lip Protrusion

Diagnosis and orthodontic planning should have several goals, including improved appearance (esthetics), normal oral function, optimum proximal and occlusal contacts (occlusion), and long-term stability [31].

The esthetic analysis necessary for decision-making should not be restricted only to structures framed by the lips on smiling nor should it be limited to the frontal view. Evaluations of the face in profile with the lips at rest have been widely employed in orthodontic diagnostic procedures since the dawn of orthodontics [32].

Beside the full facial orthognathic profile, the lower face should also be considered. The relationship between nose, chin, and mouth can be easily analyzed by lines such as the Steiner (“S”) Steiner line [33], and the ideal situation would be the one where the most anterior points of both lips are touching this line (Fig. 1). When the lips are positioned posterior to the “S” line, a concave aspect of the lower face emerges, which is typical of senility. In contrast, when the lips appear anterior to this line, the lower face profile looks full, protrusive, and convex. From an esthetic point of view, situations of extreme concavity or protrusion are equally unpleasant, and often lead patients and their legal guardians to seek correction with an orthodontist [34].

The position of the lips on the face is directly related to the anteroposterior one of the incisors. Retraction or dental protrusion through orthodontic mechanics causes changes in the lips to a greater or lesser degree, depending on ethnicity, gender, and/or the type of sagittal malocclusion [35]. The relationship between incisors and lips retraction is approximately 3.0 mm from the upper incisor to 1.0 mm for the upper lip (3:1), and 1:1 for the lower incisor and lower lip [35].

The presence of lip biprotrusion accompanied by dental biprotrusion may be the patient’s chief complaint (Fig. 2). Extraction of teeth in the mandibular arch (bicuspids) through bimaxillary dental retraction is indicated in individuals with congenital absence of maxillary laterals to achieve lip retraction and a balanced facial relationship [14, 25, 36]. In these cases, it would be contraindicated to extract premolars in view of the absence of upper lateral incisors. Furthermore, it does not seem reasonable to trade two natural teeth for two lateral incisor prostheses just to keep the canines in Class I.

There are clinical situations where a biprotrusion is accompanied by reduced overbite, thereby compromising the effectiveness of the anterior guidance. The closure of upper spaces (or agenesis spaces) and, in some cases the extraction of lower teeth (premolars), can also be justified, because retraction increases overbite (Fig. 3), thus enabling a proper anterior disocclusion of the mandibular protrusive movements [37, 38].

In biprotrusion cases that compromise facial esthetics, anterior disocclusion is preferable to lateral canine disocclusion, as it can be satisfactorily replaced by group function [39-42]. The anterior guidance, on the other hand, can only be performed by anterior teeth that, after treatment, exhibit adequate overbite and overjet.

Therefore, both the maintenance and the opening of space would be contraindicated in cases of lip and dental biprotrusion and, consequently, when the goal is to address this issue.

C- Severe Crowding of the Lower Incisors

In cases with a severe lack of space in the lower dental arch, it is mandatory to indicate dental extractions, irrespective of other features the patient may present [31, 32, 38]. Often, the alveolar bone positioned buccally to the incisors becomes increasingly thinner due to protrusion and the buccal position of these teeth..., and may even have ...gingival recessions, fenestration and bone dehiscence [31]. In such cases, facial esthetics may also be compromised [43].

When upper lateral incisors are missing and there is an appropriate maxillomandibular sagittal relationship of the posterior segments (i.e., molars in Class I, or next to a Class I Angle relationship), the preferred option is to extract the mandibular first premolars while closing both upper and lower spaces [14, 36].

D- Angle Class II Malocclusion

Angle Class II malocclusion is characterized by a more anterior position of the maxillary dental arch relative to the mandibular one. It may also result from a more anterior position of the upper arch, a more posterior position of the lower arch, or a combination of both. Furthermore, these deviations may be located only in the dental aspect or as secondary signs of disharmony between the bony bases of the maxilla versus the mandible, which is characteristic of a skeletal origin malocclusion [44].

One of the strategies to treat Angle Class II malocclusion through maxillary protrusion, particularly in patients at the end of growth or with no growth, is to extract teeth in the upper arch, usually the first bicuspids so to create space for retraction of these teeth [45] and obtain adequate overjet and overbite (Fig. 4).

In Class II malocclusions with congenital absence of the upper lateral incisors and no crowding in the lower arch, the use of existing spaces to retract the upper anterior teeth, central incisors, and canines is more conservative and predictable. Moreover, it requires less total treatment time than the maintenance of spaces for prostheses of the lateral incisors and extraction of the maxillary first premolars [14, 36].

E- Gummy Smile

This situation poses a daunting challenge to dental professionals, namely when the treatment of missing teeth is undertaken in the anterior maxilla. The major concerns consist in imparting a harmony of color and hue to the teeth, appropriate gingival contour, and natural topography of the alveolar process [17, 19, 20].

At present, the first prosthetic treatment option for cases of missing teeth is the implant [7]. Gingival recession is commonly found in adults, where it may give rise to color change in the marginal gingiva (bluish hue) and/or exposure of the implant edge [17]. In addition, over time, it is possible that the implant crown and the crowns of the other teeth become unlevelled in both the gingival and incisal aspects, as the implant tends to behave like an ankylosed tooth [9, 19, 20]. These limitations are particularly important in patients with gingival exposure on smiling, thus implants are not indicated in these cases [9, 25].

In tooth-supported fixed dentures, the presence of a depression in the alveolar ridge in the edentulous region, which results from a growing bone atrophy over the years, should not be disregarded from an esthetic point of view [24, 46].

Moving canine to mesial, in order to close the spaces left by missing teeth, leads to great esthetic advantages compared to other options. However, it is important that orthodontists perform canine extrusion to allow a lower gingival contour relative to the central incisor and the first premolar, and apply a lingual root torque to these teeth to prevent the emergence of a canine eminence in the lateral incisor region [14, 17]. Given that all the teeth are natural, eruption will occur jointly and the teeth will remain leveled [17].

F- Excessive Overbite

In the presence of a deep bite and when the intrusion of the maxillary central incisors is proposed as orthodontic treatment, maintenance or opening spaces for replacement with implants should be cautiously reassessed, as some intrusion relapse will manifest in the future [47, 48], and the esthetic result can be catastrophic in the long term [19, 20], particularly if a slight gummy smile is present [9, 17].

When fixed dentures have already been planned, situations of unilateral agenesis should raise concern, because the two central incisors may become unlevelled as the central incisor on the side unaffected by agenesis are free to express recurrence and the central incisor adjacent is fixed to the canine by means of a fixed partial denture.

Therefore, the best suited treatment option seem to be the mesially moved canines, as they are natural teeth whose mechanical behavior is similar to that of incisors. Another option would be to bond a retainer on the palatal side not only to prevent the opening of space but also to maintain the leveling of the recontoured central incisors and canines [9, 15, 17].