Solitary median maxillary central incisor: Gateway to diagnosis of systemic diseases

Abstract

A Solitary median maxillary central incisor (SMMCI) is a rare dental anomaly that may occur alone or be associated with other systemic conditions. Most common association is with holoprosencephaly. It can easily be misdiagnosed as a simple case of hypodontia due to either traumatic dental injury or fusion of two central incisors or a mesiodens developing to the one side of midline or any other condition that may lead to growth termination of central incisor at the cellular level. Every dentist needs to be aware of oral manifestations of this anomaly, thereby facilitating an early diagnosis of SMMCI, as it may be a sign of other severe congenital or developmental anomalies. Proper follow-up and close monitoring of the growth and development of SMMCI patients are of critical importance. The aim of this paper was to report a case of a 12-year-old female child with an SMMCI and describe important symptoms of this syndrome.