Primary Failure of Eruption: A Diagnosis of Exclusion

Abstract

Primary failure of eruption is a rare condition, which results in partial or complete failure of a tooth or several teeth to erupt. The postulated cellular process is a malfunction in the eruption mechanism, which fails to completely drive the tooth along its eruption axis. The aetiology is genetic, with a specific link to a mutation in the parathyroid hormone 1 receptor gene, hence a familial pattern of inheritance may be observed. Diagnosis and treatment can be challenging, often necessitating an interdisciplinary approach. CPD/Clinical Relevance: Knowledge of the features of primary failure of eruption is useful for clinicians.