MANAGEMENT OF ECTOPICALLY ERUPTING PERMANENT MOLARS BY THE DEGREE OF IMPACTION

Lee, Ji-Hyun; Kim, Ji-Yeon; Park, Ki-Tae

Journal of the Korean Academy of Pediatric Dentistry 2010;37(1):136-142.
Published online February 28, 2010.

MANAGEMENT OF ECTOPICALLY ERUPTING PERMANENT MOLARS BY THE DEGREE OF IMPACTION

Ji-Hyun Lee, Ji-Yeon Kim, Ki-Tae Park

Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine

매복 정도에 따른 대구치 이소맹출의 치험례

이지현, 김지연, 박기태

성균관대학교 의과대학 삼성서울병원 소아치과

Correspondence: Ki-Tae Park, Tel: 02-3410-2426, Email: park2426@skku.edu

Received: 13 October 2009 • Accepted: 9 January 2010

Abstract

Ectopic eruption is defined as the eruption of the tooth in an abnormal position or orientation. In the molar region, ectopic eruption may cause distal root resorption and premature exfoliation of the neighbor teeth and uncontrolled space loss is followed. Prolonged partial impaction of the permanent molar may also cause undetected caries or abscess formation of the neighbor teeth. While 66% of ectopically erupting permanent molars are corrected spontaneously without treatment, the treatment is necessary for the irreversible ectopic eruption cases. The optimal treatment approach depends on a number of factors including the clinical eruption status of the molar, amount of enamel ledge and the mobility of the neighbor tooth, and the presence of pain or infection. This case report presents the results of treatment of the ectopically erupting maxillary first permanent molars and mandibular second molars using elastic separators or modified Halterman appliance with or without surgical approach.

Key Words: Ectopic eruption, Permanent molar, Halterman appliance