Congenital Absence of Permanent Canines: Report of Two Cases

Abstract

Congenital absence of permanent canines is a rare event, especially when syndromic cases are excluded. Our data suggest a population frequency of roughly 1 per 1,000 people. This report describes two contemporary cases with radiographically-confirmed bilateral absence of the maxillary canines. One is a case of simple hypodontia, where only the upper canines failed to develop (though the lateral incisors are undersize). The other case exhibits the additional absence of maxillary lateral incisors and second premolars. These cases add weight to prior findings that (A) the canine is the tooth type least likely not to form, (B) upper canines are more likely to be missing than mandibular canines, and (C) the frequency is higher in females than males.