Idiopathic failure of eruption: Diagnosis and management dilemma

Abstract

Primary failure of eruption (PFE) is a rare disease defined as incomplete tooth eruption despite the presence of a clear eruption pathway with no association to any syndromic disease. Usually diagnosed by pedodontists or orthodontists in early age, this diagnosis may be a challenge in adult patients.This condition should be proposed as a differential diagnosis in adult patients with multiple dental impactions without systemic or syndromic problems, which is suggestive of a PFE not diagnosed in an early age or any another idiopathic eruption failure.No orthodontic management could be provided in these cases, the management dilemma should take under consideration prosthetic possibilities, associated or not to prior surgical procedures.We present a case with multiple impactions despite a clear eruption path way. Diagnosis built up was managed by clinical, radiological and biological investigations. Management required multidisciplinary reasoning. Subsequent prosthetic planning using a removable prosthesis revealed the need for surgical intervention. This case highlights diagnosis built up and the conservative treatment options to minimize the risk of iatrogenic damage and unnecessary treatment.

Keywords

• Primary failure of tooth eruption
• Tooth eruption failure
• PFE
• Multiple impactions