Missing Lateral Incisors

When a pre pubertal patient is congenitally missing a maxillary lateral incisor the best treatment option is to create the space for the missing tooth with a view to placing an implant post pubertal.
In the post pubertal patient, with arch length loss into the missing lateral space, the treatment may be involve leaving the cuspid in the lateral position. Given the option, the better option is to regain space for the implant.
The space for the missing or microdontic lateral incisor is approximately 2mm less than the width of the central inc incisor.