Prosthodontic Management of a Patient with Oligodontia: A Case Report

Hypodontia is a congenital absence of 1 or more permanent teeth excluding third molars1-4 and it’s prevalence varies from 3.5% to 6.5% in permanent dentition, and approximately 1% in primary dentition5. Oligodontia or severe hypodontia is defined as a congenital absence of 6 or more teeth excluding the third molars3,5-7, which may occur either alone or along with a systemic disorder, such as ectodermal dysplasia3. Genetic factors, environmental factors, endocrine disturbances, or viral diseases, such as rubella or scarlet fever, and nutritional deficiencies (vitamin B) during pregnancy may play an important role for oligodontia1,3,8. Several studies examining a relationship between missing teeth and skeletal pattern9,10 revealed that, while increasing number of missing teeth results in a decrease in the mandibular plane angle, a reduction in facial height results in a less aesthetic facial appearance. Therefore, oligodontia associated with or without syndromes results in not only functional but also psychosocial problems, especially for young people5,11. Treatment may contain space closure by orthodontic therapy, removable or fixed partial dentures, and extraction of primary retained teeth, osseointegrated dental implants or combination of these4,12-18. For successful treatment, an interdisciplinary approach is suggested. In this case report, a prosthodontic management of a 31-year-old female patient with oligodontia is described.