Abstract
In recent years, implants have often been used as the first choice of prosthodontic therapy for single missing teeth, and the concept of one implant to one missing tooth is becoming more common.
However, the superstructural design of molar implants is still one that avoids lateral occlusal contact. Furthermore, in anterior teeth, implants are often designed to be functionally protected by natural teeth, and as the main focus of therapy, esthetics tends to take precedence over function.
Meanwhile, the jaw is tending to be weaker, and the incidence of congenitally missing teeth has markedly increased. Orthodontic therapy is difficult in many cases, and implants are being used in such patients. However, implants cannot fulfill the functional roles of missing teeth, and this is becoming an important issue.
Here, following orthodontic therapy, implants were placed in a patient with congenitally missing bilateral maxillary canines. The implants were designed to function like natural canines in harmony with the other teeth and the temporomandibular joint.
