Pseudoanodontia - Orthodontics to the Rescue?

This case report highlights the treatment of a skeletal Class II malocclusion with pseudoanodontia that indicated clinical but not radiographic absence of teeth. A 21-year-old female patient presented with a skeletal Class II malocclusion with an orthognathic maxilla and a retrognathic mandible, with Angle’s Class I malocclusion with rotated maxillary and mandibular anteriors with fourteen impacted maxillary and mandibular teeth. Impacted mandibular right and left third molars were advised to be removed surgically. Maxillary right first premolar and left second premolar and mandibular right and left lateral incisors were surgically removed. Surgical exposure of the remaining multiple impacted teeth was done. Pre adjusted edgewise appliance, Roth’s prescription .018 inch slot was strapped up. Orthodontic extrusion of the impacted teeth was advocated. The seven impacted teeth were effectively treated with orthodontic traction. This improved the patients’ esthetics, speech and self-esteem considerably.