Aesthetic rehabilitation in lower mandibular area for agenesis in site 4.2: A case report and literature review

Abstract

Agenesis, or congenital absence of one or more dental elements, is one of the most frequently occurring craniofacial disorders in humans and is a clinical problem that compromises aesthetics and dental function from an early age. It is a condition that can involve both deciduous and permanent dentition, with contextually different prognoses and treatment solutions.

In both cases, the clinical management of this issue involves a multi-disciplinary approach designed to cover the comprehensive dental needs of patients with agenesis. Among the elements of the permanent dentition less commonly affected by this malformation are the lower lateral incisors, whose absence may be rare but, at the same time, aesthetically and functionally debilitating for the patient.

Aim: The current study presents a review of the existing literature regarding the prevalence, etiology, and classification of the various clinically detectable dental agenesis, with a focus especially directed toward absent mandibular lateral incisors and possible clinical dental management to resolve the problem. This article’s description of a case report aims to outline a possible aesthetic rehabilitation approach in the presence of these rare cases of agenesis and then present the clinical results obtained through implant-prosthetic rehabilitation combined with orthodontic therapy.