Year : 2022

Volume : Volume 13

Issue : Issue 3

Address for correspondence :
K Akshaya
akshayamada@hotmail.com

Abstract

The maxillary lateral incisor is the second most common congenitally absent tooth. The management of missing lateral incisor was either
closure using canine as substitution or creation of space orthodontically for prosthetic replacement or a single-tooth implant. The primary
consideration among all these treatment options is conservation of tooth structure. Substitution of canine was the treatment of choice since
it was the least invasive and satisfied the expected esthetic and functional objective. The objective was to treat a 26-year-old female patient
having bilaterally missing maxillary lateral incisors with spacing in the upper front teeth and crowding in the lower front teeth region. Spaces
in the maxillary front region were closed using fixed mechanotherapy by substituting maxillary canines in place of maxillary lateral incisors.
The maxillary canines were then recontoured and restored with composite resin to give the esthetic appearance of maxillary lateral incisors.
Substitution of canine in missing maxillary lateral incisors is an excellent alternative since the results are permanent, space closure provides
a normal gingival topography and it is economical.
Keywords: Canine substitution, Composite restoration, Missing lateral incisor, Recontouring, Reshaping