Introduction: Oligodontia is a congenital developmental disorder characterized by the absence of six or more permanent teeth. Syndromic oligodontia occurs in association with a syndrome, while nonsyndromic oligodontia occurs independently. The latter can be caused by mutations in certain genes or environmental factors affecting tooth development. The most commonly missing teeth are the upper lateral incisors, upper second premolars, and lower central incisors. Treating patients with oligodontia requires a multidisciplinary approach, as the treatment process is lengthy and complex. The treatment is managed by a multidisciplinary team that determines the final solutions at the beginning and collaborates closely throughout the treatment. The team consists of a dentist, orthodontist, dental prosthetist, maxillofacial surgeon, and, if necessary, a psychologist. Diagnosis is made during childhood, and treatment begins with orthodontic treatment to ensure proper jaw development and tooth alignment. Before receiving final prosthetic solutions, patients are provided with temporary restorations to restore aesthetics and function. After completing the treatment, retention of the new oral state is also required. Throughout the entire process, the dental technician is present, providing their expertise and creating orthodontic, fixed, removable, and temporary restorations for the patient. Purpose: The aim of this thesis is to present a literature review on nonsyndromic oligodontia, the complexity of its treatment, and to present the role of the dental laboratory technician in the management of this condition. Methods: The methods include a literature review and the production of temporary foils with pontics, based on a real patient case. A descriptive method was applied. Professional literature in English and Slovene was searched through databases such as Web of Science, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Proquest, PubMed, and Google Scholar. Previous theses available on the Digital Library of the University of Ljubljana (Repository) were also used. We searched for articles on nonsyndromic oligodontia and various treatment approaches for patients with this condition. The sources helped define treatment protocols, procedures, and the overall treatment process. Keywords entered into search engines included: oligodontia, treatment, dental technitian, nonsyndromic oligodontia, fixed prosthodontics, removable prosthodontics, retention. Alongside the thesis, temporary vacuum-formed retainers with pontics were created, the process of which is described and accompanied by photographs. Results: The thesis presents the procedures for creating a temporary vacuum-formed retainer with a pontic using a combination of traditional and computer-aided methods. Discussion and Conclusion: It was found that timely diagnosis and early initiation of treatment are crucial for successful management. The involvement of the dental laboratory technician throughout the treatment process is essential for producing high-quality products and satisfactory final results.
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