Unerupted permanent incisors and associated dental anomalies

Abstract

Aim

The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between unerupted permanent incisors and dental anomalies among children and adolescents.

Methods

The clinical records of patients between January 2005 and December 2014 were retrieved to identify those with unerupted permanent incisors. A retrospective audit on the presence or absence of any dental anomalies was done from all available records of the included patients.

Results

A total of 266 patients with 320 unerupted permanent incisors were identified from the 15 987 patients in the study. Among the unerupted permanent incisors, 222 (69.4%) were associated with dental anomalies, which was significantly higher than those showing an absence of dental anomalies (N = 98, 30.6%, P < 0.001). For the unerupted maxillary central incisors, a significantly higher proportion was associated with supernumerary teeth (P < 0.001). For the unerupted maxillary lateral incisors, a significantly higher proportion was associated with the ectopic eruption of permanent canines when compared with other dental anomalies (P < 0.001). The presence of the ectopic eruption of permanent canine, double teeth, and hyperdontia was significantly higher among male patients with unerupted permanent incisors.

Conclusions

Unerupted permanent incisors were associated with supernumerary teeth and ectopic eruption of permanent canines. Specifically, a higher proportion of unerupted maxillary central incisors was associated with the presence of supernumerary teeth, whereas a higher percentage of unerupted maxillary lateral incisors was associated with the ectopic eruption of permanent canines.