Etiology and clinical treatment strategies for second primary molars without permanent tooth germs

Abstract

Congenital tooth agenesis is a type of craniofacial developmental anomaly with reduced number of teeth, which is caused by disturbances in tooth germ development. If the number of missing teeth is less than six (excluding the third molars), it is termed as hypodontia. The second premolars are most commonly affected. When the second premolars are missing, the second primary molars are more prone to suffer from retention, infraocclusion, caries, pulpitis, or periapical periodontitis. Without timely prevention and appropriate treatment, congenital loss of second premolars may cause adverse effects on the patients' tooth arrangement, occlusal function, craniofacial development, and even future prosthetic treatment. This review summarises the aetiological and diagnostic features of the agenesis of second premolars, and discusses the clinical considerations of retaining or extracting the second primary molars without permanent tooth germs, when the absence of permanent tooth germs is fully established or not, so as to provide references for dentists.