Replacement of missing lateral incisors for patients with cleft lip and palate: A decision-making tree based on a systematic review of the literature

Statement of problem: Cleft lip and palate are the most frequent congenital anomalies of the face and are often linked with lateral incisor agenesis. The therapeutic decision on whether and how to replace the lateral incisors is not straightforward, and a decision-making tree is needed. Purpose: The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the available literature reporting on treatments for the replacement of missing lateral incisors in cleft areas. By analyzing the success and survival rates of these treatments, a decision-making tree was developed. Material and methods: The literature search was performed on the PubMed (MEDLINE), Web of Science, Cochrane, EMBASE, Dentistry of Oral and Science Source, and Google Scholar databases and was based on the question: Which treatment for patients with lateral incisor agenesis and cleft lip and palate has a good success rate? Results: Twenty-six articles were included in this systematic review. A meta-analysis was performed on 14 articles (20 case series, 6 case controls). The estimated overall 5-year survival rates were 96.4% for implant-supported prostheses. Conclusions: Different treatment options are available, depending on the clinical situation. If the patient meets the conditions for implant placement, this treatment remains a preferred solution. If the prosthetic space is reduced, orthodontic space closure and composite resin restorations are possible. When these options are not possible, a resin-bonded fixed partial denture is the preferred option. If the teeth adjacent to the edentulous area require extensive restorations, a fixed partial denture may be a suitable alternative.