Space opening a favoured orthodontic approach for hypodontia: Study

Analysis of consecutive patients attending the hypodontia clinic at a dental hospital between February and November 2020. A total of 100 patients who met the inclusion criteria were identified. Data collected included the following: age/sex; number and type of missing teeth; pre-treatment occlusion; presence of other dental anomalies; and planned treatment.

Results of the study are:

A total of 100 patients (55% female; age range = 7–41 years; mean age = 18 years) were included. Of the cohort, 47% had a class I skeletal relationship and participants were significantly less likely to have a class III skeletal or incisor relationship; 45% had another dental anomaly with the most common being microdontia. Space opening was the preferred treatment option for those managed by orthodontic treatment with resin-bonded bridges most likely to be used for restoration of spaces, 86%.

Thus, the researchers concluded that the lower second premolars were the most commonly missing teeth. Participants were significantly less likely to have a class III incisor or skeletal relationship than class I or II. Space opening was the favoured approach for orthodontic treatment, particularly for maxillary lateral incisors.

Reference:

The prevalence and management of patients with hypodontia: A cross -sectional study by Nusaybah Elsherif et al. published in the Journal of Orthodontics.

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/14653125211065457