Factors Affecting DecisionMaking For Congenitally Missing Permanent Maxillary Lateral Incisors: A Retrospective Study

The aims of this study were as follows: 1) to retrospectively evaluate clinical situations of patients with congenitally missing permanent maxillary lateral incisors (CMPMLI) who were referred to three dental clinics specialised in prosthodontics over a 14-year period and 2) to investigate the factors affecting decision-making for patients with CMPMLI. The records of 46 patients with CMPMLI who were treated over a period of 14 years were examined to determine the mechanism of decision-making for treatment planning and factors affecting the decision. Descriptive statistics were used in the initial analysis of the entire data set. In addition, a correlation coefficient—the nonparametric Spearman’s rho coefficient—was calculated to trace any possible relation between variables or rank orders. The significance level was set at 0.05 for the analysis. The results of this study revealed that decision-making for treatment of CMPMLI is directly dependent mainly on the following four factors: 1. Patient’s age at treatment commencement 2. Individual characteristics of each clinical situation, which play a crucial but not an exclusive role in the treatment approach 3. Synthesis of the participating specialists in the treating team, which plays a crucial role in the decision-making 4. Use of pin-retained resin-bonded bridges (RBBs), either bilaterally attached or cantilevered, proved to be a reliable solution in terms of aesthetics, function and soft tissue response during the study period. Clinical implication: The rationale in the decision-making process for patients with congenitally missing permanent maxillary lateral incisors was investigated in this study to determine whether specific treatment options are superior to others.

Congenitally Missing Permanent Maxillary Lateral Incisors Treatment Planning Orthodontic Space Closure Orthodontic Space Opening