Tooth eruption is a process whereby the forming tooth migrates from its intraosseous location in the jaw to its functional position within the oral cavity. A variety of eruption problems arise during the transitional dentition period and one such problem is ectopic eruption. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent a more complicated malocclusion.
Nikiforuk who also classified ectopic eruptions, defined them as “a condition in which the permanent teeth, because of deficiency of growth in the jaw or segment of jaw, assume a path of eruption that intercepts a primary tooth, causes its premature loss and produces a consequent malposition of the permanent tooth. Failure to treat ectopic eruption can result in loss of arch length, inadequate space for the succedaneous premolar, and malocclusion. Ectopic eruption of first permanent molars, an example of an eruption anamoly, is most often diagnosed from the periapical and bitewing radiographic survey. In instances of an otherwise ideal occlusion, the first permanent molar may be positioned too far mesially and may become impacted against the distal root of the second primary molar. The impacted permanent molar may cause premature root résorption, pulp obliteration, neuralgic pain, or premature exfoliation. The chief goal in correcting ectopic eruption is distal displacement of the permanent molar to its normal position in contact with the distal aspect of the second primary molar. Even if the second molar is subsequently prematurely lost, a space maintainer can be used to prevent untoward tooth movement until eruption of the second premolar. Sometimes, the primary second molar can be retained even with extensive resorptive damage.”
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