Prevalence and complications of ectopic eruption in 6-12-year-old children based on radiographic evaluation

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: This study aimed to retrospectively determine the prevalence of ectopic eruption observed in permanent teeth during the mixed dentition period and the complications caused by it, based on radiographic findings. METHODS: This study included children aged 6-12 years admitted to the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University. The orthopantomographic radiographs of 2664 patients were used to examine anterior and premolar teeth by two different researchers. The patient's age and gender, the teeth with ectopic eruption, and complications caused by it on the jaw, adjacent teeth, and arch were recorded. RESULTS: Ectopic eruption was observed in 176 patients (91 girls and 85 boys) out of 2664 patients included in the study and the prevalence rate was 6.6%. The eruption complications were observed in 131 of 176 patients with ectopic eruption (4.9%). Among the complications, the most common and the least common complications were the reduction in the arch length (1.2%) and the impaction of the adjacent permanent tooth (0.1%), respectively. The ectopic eruption was mostly common in premolar teeth. CONCLUSION: The early radiographic diagnosis of ectopic eruption can lead to more manageable and more acceptable methods of treatment with no need to adopt complicated treatments in appropriate cases, providing a great advantage for both the patient and the dentist.