(PO-060) Treatment Preferences of Dentists in Managing Congenitally Missing Lateral Incisors
Sunday, March 20, 2022
1:00pm – 3:00pm EST
Location: Hall C
Author: Katherine E. Lambert, B.S. – Student, University of New England College of Dental Medicine Author: Mohamed ElSalhy, B.D.M., M.Sc., M.P.H., Ph.D. – Assistant Professor, University of New England College of Dental Medicine Submitter: Katherine E. Lambert, B.S. – Student, University of New England College of Dental Medicine
Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare general dentists and orthodontists in the management of congenitally missing lateral incisors (CMLI).
Experimental
Methods: This online cross-sectional survey was targeted at general dentists, orthodontists, and residents. The survey consisted of a demographic section and three clinical cases; an untreated case of CMLI, a case with a re-established lateral incisor space, and a case treated with canine substitution. Treatment preferences and differences between general dentists and orthodontists were evaluated.
Results: A total of 81 general dentists and 42 orthodontists completed the survey. Participants were 38.7% female with 58.9% under 45 years old. The mean (SD) years of experience was 18.2 (16.5). About 12.2% of general dentists would treat the given CMLI themselves, while 86.6% would refer to an orthodontist. For a patient with a re-established lateral incisor space, implant replacement was the first choice for treatment with no significant difference between general dentists and orthodontists, 88.5% (3.6) vs 85.7% (5.5), respectively (p=0.667). For a patient with lateral substitution with canines, 54.7% (5.7) of general dentists would reshape the canines using composite resin as a first choice compared to 46.5% (7.7) of orthodontists (p=0.398). About 6.3% (3.5) of general dentists would reshape the canine with no restoration compared to 24.4% (6.8) of orthodontists (p=0.007) and 28.8% (6.6) of general dentists would do nothing further compared to 2.6% (2.6) of orthodontists (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: Although there is a general agreement between general dentists and orthodontists that implants are the preferred option for prosthetic replacement of CMLI, they differ in their esthetic management of the canine substitution cases.
