title: Bilateral maxillary canines agenesis: a case report and a literature review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Agenesis of permanent canines is an uncommon condition that affects human teeth. In fact, canine is the most variable positioned tooth, it can be found palatally or facially displaced or ectopically erupted from the dental arch. On the contrary, canine agenesis is a rare finding in Caucasian populations, but it may be relatively more common in Asian groups. This dental anomaly is firstly influenced by genetic, and less often by systemic and environmental factors. Generally, it can occur in association with other dental disturbances or as a solitary anomaly. Prevalence of agenesis permanent teeth varies between 4.5% and 7.4% in general Caucasian populatioN.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this report is to discuss the aetiology, prevalence, diagnosis and clinical implications of canine agenesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  This paper reports an unusual case of bilateral, congenitally missing canines in a healthy 10 year old Italian male.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Catania Dental College, University of Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lombardo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barbato
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Leonardi
mesh_terms: D000848:Anodontia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics; D002648:Child; D003481:Cuspid / Q000002:abnormalities*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla; D011859:Radiography; D012391:Root Resorption / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging