Prosthodontic Rehabilitation of Hypodontia – A Team Approach

Abstract

Hypodontia can have an impact on speech, aesthetics, function and psycho-social behavior of individuals afflicted by the problem. Rehabilitation of patients with hypodontia usually requires complex treatment planning, depending upon the pattern of tooth absence, amount of residual spacing, presence of malocclusion and patient compliance. It is an interdisciplinary intervention, involving prosthodontists, orthodontists, oral surgeons, speech pathologists and psychologists to achieve an optimal outcome for the patient. This case report describes the close work of a committed team from orthodontic, oral surgery and prosthodontic department of de'Montmorency College of Dentistry, Lahore, to reach final aesthetic and functional outcomes for an 18 year old girl with oligodontia. Her chief complaint was poor esthetics and absence of multiple anterior teeth with unsightly spacing between remaining teeth. Orthodontic redistribution of spaces followed by fixed full arch prosthetic rehabilitation were the goals achieved at the end of her treatment. KEYWORDS: Oligodontia, interdisciplinary team work, prosthodontic rehabilitation, fixed restorations.