Hypodontia is quite common, up to about 5% of the population may have one up to six teeth missing. The first step to the successful long-term management of a congenitally missing lateral incisor case is early detection and referral to the orthodontist. The role of the orthodontist in the early mixed-dentition stage of development is to monitor and guide the eruption of the permanent canine. If the crown of the permanent canine is erupting apical to the primary canine root, as it normally does, it may be necessary to selectively extract the primary lateral incisor to encourage the permanent canine to erupt adjacent to the central incisor.