Missing Lateral Incisors- Fixed Retainer with Pontic

My goal was to give this patient a complete smile and a functional bite while preparing the spaces for future replacement of his missing upper lateral incisors. For this case, I chose to maintain space for replacement teeth rather than close the spaces with canine substitution. I used braces to align both arches, establish Class I canine and molar relationships, and position the adjacent roots to provide adequate room for future implants. Creating the correct space between the roots was just as important as creating the visible space between the teeth. Because he was still growing, the plan was to maintain these spaces until his growth and implant readiness could be assessed. I chose a fixed upper retainer with two pontics, or replacement teeth, to fill the gaps while helping hold the adjacent teeth in position. This gave him a complete smile without requiring him to wear a removable appliance throughout the day to replace the missing teeth. The bonded retainer, together with nighttime Vivera retainers, was designed to maintain alignment and preserve the planned restorative spaces. This approach addressed his immediate concern about the gaps while preparing him for definitive tooth replacement in the future.