DD missing one lateral incisor

[Rubixeight]

Hi! My DD is missing one lateral incisor and the orthodontist has given us two option: close the gap and possibly file the canine or open a gap and put a Maryland bridge. Has anyone had this? What did you chose? What would you recommend?
thank you!

DS had this. He’s now 20 and other than having a retainer you wouldn’t know. He’s not at all self conscious about it - which he was as a young teen before it was dealt with. You will get treatment on the nhs so suggest you find a recommended nhs orthodontist.

I think you have to have two incisors missing for NHS cover

He had the bridge or closed the gap?

DS has this, currently has braces to close the gap. Having a false tooth is a lifetime of maintenance and expense. Orthodontist offered both options but when I asked what she’d do to her own child there was a very quick answer.
you don’t have to decide straight away though, have to wait until all the premolars have fallen out and grown which ime is usually about 13/14.

I was taken aback and upset when the dentist first announced in a very blasé way that ds was missing two incisors, but I now realise it is actually rather common.

I had a maryland bridge to replace a canine glued to the tooth behind and the blasted thing lasted a fortnight and then a couple of days and I was back and forth to the dentist to have it reglued a couple times more in the next week and we decided that it was better to crown the tooth behind and have the bridge done that way and I'm happy to say it has lasted ten years with no signs of failure. I was disappointed at the time to have such major work on an otherwise healthy tooth but it's lasted so well I'm okay with it now. I should also state that dentists have told me I have an exceptionally strong bite, so I might only have myself to blame for the maryland bridge failing.

I was missing two incisors and now have two bridges. Having the gaps as a teenager was awful and I've not bitten an apple/have toffee since I was a child. I'm always worried about them and they have come off on about 4 occasions over the last 20 years which isn't emergency treatment so I've been left with gaps whilst waiting for an appointment. It really isn't an easy road depending on placement/your mouth shape.

Dd had this too- surgical removal of incisor from the palate followed by just under 2 years of braces and you’d never know now. Her teeth are lovely and straight. No filing required and no discolouration etc. If you take a photo and zoom in you can tell, but no one else would.

Lovely straight teeth now

Before.

My DD has one missing lateral incisor, the gap closed up on its own, and no orthodontist work was ever done. It looks fine and she doesn't have to worry about toffee etc. So I'd consider the Do Nothing approach. This was what our dentist recommended, just keeping an eye over the years.

I don't have either of my top lateral incisors so had a gap between my two front teeth. I had braces as a teenager to close the gap. A few years later I had composite bonding put onto my canines and didn't have any filing done. After that no one would have known I had any teeth missing and I would actually have people compliment me on my teeth sometimes. When I fell pregnant my teeth moved and I developed an open bite, I don't know if this was connected to the missing teeth or not, but I'm now wearing Invisalign-type braces to close the open bite, which they almost have.

My daughter is missing all four so was offered this option and also preserving the gap’s and implants. She opted for braces to close the gaps and had them for about 2 years. She has a bumper behind the top teeth to keep them in place. The brace came off about 2 yrs ago now and she wears retainers every night too and bottom. She hasn’t opted for the filing though as her canines aren’t particularly pointed and they look absolutely fine. Good luck

Yes, it does feel upsetting and a big decision when you first hear about it. All the answers above are making me realise it’s more common than I thought! I think the reason I would have to think about it earlier rather than later is bc to create the gap the arch would need expanding at a younger age when the palate is still soft.

I’m glad you found a solution that has lasted! I think the canine maybe has more pressure on the bite than the incisor.

That does sound frustrating it coming off regularly. Thank you for sharing. It does seem like overall mouth/face shape is something to discuss with ortho to decide on best option.

Is this closed gap? You can’t tell at all! Beautiful smile.

My 14 year old had the same missing tooth, we had same options and opted for braces to straighten and a bridge, once she’s older she might decide to have an implant for the missing tooth.

My husband is missing both lateral incisors… he spent years in braces as a teenager trying to close the gap. In the end it didn’t work perfectly , still looked weird and had braces to then move the canines back out to allow for implant.
the implants and perfect, he hasn’t had to replace them in a decade and you can’t tell they are implants. He brushes like normal etc

Closed the gap. I can’t remember the reasons why we opted for that… I think it was advised as less complex, less intervention and more likely to be successful. Anyway it was the right decision.

Did you have to create the space for the bridge or was it already there?

My daughter has this and after much much much deliberation we are closing the gap with braces.

Her options were the same as yours, bridge until older then implant.

I hope we are doing the right thing but I think that once it’s done we will probably never think about it again tbh!

Right, so much deliberation!! I’m glad you came to a decision and will be great not to think about it anymore!

Was this to me? I posted the photos above… yes this was surgical removal of the missing incisor which had grown in the palate followed by almost two years of braces to close the gap. No filing or filling of the tooth closing the gap. She wears retainers at night. But that’s standard after braces anyway. Her teeth would have needed orthodontics anyway due to their layout but it was a bit longer due to the gap needing filled… but manageable. She’s almost 16 now and that’s her smile now.

Yes it was to you! Thanks, she has a lovely smile! I am glad it all worked out.

Hi @Rubixeightjust wondered which option you chose in the end? I’m in the same boat with my dd and struggling to decide which is the best option for her. Thanks