Facial Biotype and Mandibular Growth Adaptation in Maxillary Lateral Incisors Agenesis

Abstract

To verify the eventual relationship between maxillary lateral incisor agenesis (MLIA) and one of the clinically established facial biotypes. The analysis was performed in and between 3 groups: individuals with MLIA, their relatives and a control population defined as "normal" or unaffected. Among these, a comparison between adults and growing individuals was also carried out. The dolicofacial biotype was mainly found in children with bilateral agenesis, while the unilateral agenesis as well as the control population of unaffected children showed mainly a mesofacial pattern. The braquiofacial biotype was prevalent in children without agenesis but (family) related to patients with agenesis. This is the case also for all the adults studied, even if the frequency of the braquiofacial is similar to the one attained by the mesofacial biotype when found in unaffected individuals related with agenesis patients. The notable variability found, evidenced by the high values of the standard deviations calculated for each group, makes difficult to definitely establish a positive correlation between the MLIA and one of the facial biotypes with the present data.