title: Maxillary lateral incisor agenesis and its relationship to overall tooth size.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Agenesis of the maxillary lateral incisor has been linked to differences in the size of the remaining teeth. Thus, the mesiodistal space required for definitive esthetic restoration in patients with missing maxillary lateral incisors may be reduced.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine whether a tooth size discrepancy exists in orthodontic patients with agenesis of one or both maxillary lateral incisors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty sets of dental casts from orthodontic patients (19 men and 21 women; mean 15.9 years of age; all of European origin) were collected. All casts had agenesis of one or both maxillary lateral incisors. Teeth were measured with a digital caliper at their greatest mesiodistal width and then compared with those of a control group matched for ethnicity, age, and sex. Four-factor ANOVA with repeated measures of 2 factors was used for statistical analysis (α=.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Orthodontic patients with agenesis of one or both maxillary lateral incisors exhibited smaller than normal tooth size compared with the control group. The maxillary arch had a larger tooth size difference between the control and test groups than the mandibular arch (there was a significant Jaw × Group interaction [F=4.78, P=.032]).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Agenesis of one or both maxillary lateral incisors is significantly associated with tooth size discrepancy, which may affect the space remaining for restoration of the remaining teeth.
authors.affiliation: Adjunct Professor, Department of Developmental Sciences, Marquette University School of Dentistry, Milwaukee, Wis.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Orthodontics, Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, Newark, N.J. Electronic address: jose.bosio@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jose A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bosio
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Oral Health and Rehabilitation, University of Louisville School of Dentistry, Louisville, Ky.
authors.forename: Jang-Ching
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.affiliation: Research Associate I, Department of Institutional Assessment and Quality Improvement, Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, Newark, N.J.
authors.forename: Shuying S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000848:Anodontia / Q000235:genetics; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla; D009811:Odontometry; D019228:Tooth Crown / Q000473:pathology*