Mollie and Millie’s Story
Sisters, treatment, and teamwork – a journey with missing teeth
Meet Mollie and Millie – identical twins who’ve shared lots of things growing up, including something a little less common: they were both born with missing teeth.
Missing teeth (also known as hypodontia) can run in families, and their dad also has some teeth missing, so it wasn’t a big surprise that both girls were affected.
When they were 11 years old, their dentist referred them to a specialist orthodontic practice. From there, they were sent on to a hospital-based orthodontic team to plan their care.
What teeth were missing?
Mollie was missing four teeth: her upper lateral incisors (next to the front teeth) and her lower central incisors (the two front teeth at the bottom).
Millie was also missing four teeth, but a slightly different mix: one upper lateral incisor, both lower central incisors, and one of her lower second molars (a back tooth).
These are actually some of the most commonly missing adult teeth.
How did it affect them?
Both girls were bothered by the gaps between their upper teeth – especially as they grew older. Their mum was also keen to make sure they had a long-term plan in place so they wouldn’t have to live with gaps as adults.
Their treatment journey
At the hospital, Mollie and Millie were seen in a multidisciplinary team (MDT) clinic, where an orthodontist and a restorative dentist worked together to plan their care. This kind of team approach is common for young people with missing teeth – especially when several types of treatment are needed.
Here’s what their plan looked like
- Braces were used to move their teeth and carefully create the right-sized gaps for future replacement teeth.
- Their baby teeth (which hadn’t yet fallen out) were kept for as long as possible during treatment.
- Once there was enough room, temporary replacement teeth were attached to their upper braces so there were no visible gaps.
Treatment took place during their teenage years – including during the Covid-19 pandemic, which made everything a bit more challenging.
What happened after the braces?
Once their teeth were straightened and the gaps were the correct size, they went back to the MDT clinic. The restorative dentist confirmed the spaces were suitable for resin-retained bridges – sometimes called “sticky bridges” – which are bonded to the nearby teeth.
After this
The girls had their braces removed and wore clear retainers with built-in temporary teeth until their bridges were ready. Once the bridges were fitted, they received new retainers to keep everything in place and maintain their smile.
Looking ahead
In the future, Mollie and Millie may need to have their bridges replaced – this is normal over time. If there are any difficulties replacing them, they might consider dental implants as an option when they’re older. Implants aren’t usually the first choice for young people, because the jaws are still developing, but they can be an option for some adults later on.
Mollie and Millie’s story shows how planning, teamwork, and early treatment can help young people with missing teeth feel confident about their smile – now and in the future.