The Current Evidence on Retaining or Prosthodontically Replacing Retained Deciduous Teeth in the Adult Hypodontia Patient: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND

This systematic review aims to evaluate the survival of retaining or replacing deciduous teeth in hypodontia patients with a variety of prosthetic tooth replacement options, to evaluate prognostic factors associated with retaining deciduous teeth, and report on patient based outcomes with these treatment modalities.

METHODS

MEDLINE, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Science Direct databases were searched (01/1980 - 08/2017) for studies reporting outcomes associated with retaining or replacing deciduous teeth via prosthetic means in adult hypodontia patients.

RESULTS

Twenty-one articles were included. The following survival figures were reported; retaining deciduous tooth/teeth (83%-93%), resin-bonded bridgework (59-96.9%) and implants (86-100%). No survival data was reported for fixed or removable partial dentures. Prognostic factors for deciduous tooth survival, quality of life and patient satisfaction data were also reported.

CONCLUSION

Within the limits of this review, retaining deciduous teeth have reasonable survival; however, studies beyond the third decade of life are lacking. Dental implants appear to be a highly successful long-term tooth replacement option with high patient satisfaction within this patient group, as have resin-bonded bridgework, albeit over the short to medium term. Tooth replacement options in the form of fixed and removable partial dentures were poorly reported upon.