Authors
Kirti Agrawal, Dinesh Rao, Sunil Panwar
Published in
General dentistry. Volume 74. Issue 5. Pages 70-73.
Abstract
Oligodontia is an uncommon developmental anomaly characterized by the congenital absence of 6 or more permanent teeth. It can significantly affect esthetics, function, and psychosocial well-being, especially in growing children. During growth, interim prosthetic options help restore appearance and function until definitive rehabilitation is possible. A 13-year-old girl who was congenitally missing multiple permanent teeth demonstrated no associated systemic or syndromic features. Clinical and radiographic findings confirmed nonsyndromic oligodontia affecting both arches. The mandibular anterior segment was missing 5 teeth. To address the patient's esthetic concerns and maintain space for future restorations, an interim removable clear retainer (Essix appliance) incorporating acrylic prosthetic teeth was fabricated. The acrylic segment was designed on a working cast and incorporated into a vacuum-formed thermoplastic retainer. The appliance provided immediate esthetic improvement, comfortable function, and satisfactory retention. Follow-up examinations 24 hours, 1 week, and 1 month after treatment revealed excellent tissue adaptation and patient acceptance. Removable clear retainers with prosthetic teeth offer a conservative, esthetically pleasing, and well-tolerated interim option for young patients with oligodontia. They maintain space, support function, and provide psychosocial benefits during the growth years while preserving the possibility for future definitive restorative options.
PMID:
42627281
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 21 Aug 2026.
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