Eruption disturbances in the mixed dentition: orthodontic considerations for primary dental care

Abstract

The primary dental care clinician is in a prime position to identify deviations from normal dental development. Disturbances can affect any new erupting tooth. The objective of this narrative review is to describe several situations in which eruption disturbances can arise during the mixed dentition. It will provide an overview of the orthodontic considerations of these disturbances in addition to key summary points on interceptive management, based on the best available evidence.

Keywords: Eruption disturbance; impacted teeth; interceptive orthodontics; malocclusion; mixed dentition.

Fig. 1

Unerupted maxillary left central incisor in a 9.5‐year‐old male.

Fig. 2

A dental pantomogram illustrating a supernumerary tooth impeding the eruption of the upper left permanent central incisor in the maxilla of a 9.75‐year‐old female.

Fig. 3

A dental pantomogram illustrating a palatally ectopic left permanent canine in the maxilla of a 13‐year‐old female. Also note the developmental absence of the right permanent canine in the maxilla and both second permanent premolars in the mandible.

Fig. 4

A bitewing radiograph illustrating impaction of the first permanent molar resulting in root resorption of the second primary molar.

Fig. 5

A dental pantomogram showing failure of eruption of the left first permanent molar in the mandible of a 9‐year‐old male.

Fig. 6

A dental pantomogram illustrating primary failure of eruption in the early permanent dentition of a 14‐year‐old male.

Fig. 7

A dental pantomogram illustrating the ectopic position of both second permanent premolars in the maxilla of a 9‐year‐old male.

Fig. 8

A dental pantomogram illustrating infra‐occlusion of the second primary molar in the mandible of a 10‐year‐old male.

Fig. 9

A dental pantomogram showing transposition of the upper right permanent canine and upper right first permanent premolar in a 10.5‐year‐old female.