Prevalence of delayed tooth eruption of permanent maxillary anterior teeth among Ukrainian children: retrospective radiographic study using CBCT data

Abstract

Background. Tooth eruption is a complex, multi-staged, and well-regulated biological and age specific process that can be affected and influenced by many systemic and local factors. The deviation more than ±2SD from the established norm of tooth eruption terms, while also taking account racial, ethnic, and gender factors, is important for the clinician. 
 Objective. To estimate the prevalence of delayed tooth eruption (DTE) of permanent maxillary anterior teeth among Ukrainian children sample and to investigate the epidemiology distribution of delayed eruption cases according to their causes based on CBCT data.
 Materials and Methods. Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) data sets of 684 children (304 boys and 380 girls) aged 7–14 years old, who previously have sought for orthodontic diagnostics in Central Laboratory Diagnosis of the Head (CLDH), were collected and examined to detect any delayed eruption of the permanent maxillary anterior teeth. Signs of delayed eruption were identified considering tooth developmental stages, relationships between the chronologic age and dental developmental age, eruption sequence. 
 Results. The total prevalence of delayed tooth eruption of permanent maxillary anterior teeth among the 684 children was 42.84%. 293 children (155 boys and 138 girls) had at least one impacted or retained tooth. The maxillary canines the most frequently demonstrated signs of delayed eruption and compiled 30.7% of all examined cases and 71.67% of all delayed eruption cases, followed by the lateral incisors of the maxilla – 6.58% and 15.36% respectively, and the central incisors – 5.56% and 12.97% respectively. Loss of space in dental arch and the ectopic eruption pathway were the most causative factor of delayed eruption of permanent maxillary anterior teeth. 
 Conclusions. Delayed tooth eruption of permanent maxillary anterior teeth is frequently seen in everyday orthodontic practice and requires a multidisciplinary approach of diagnostics to avoid many treatment-related complications. CBCT data is essential for timely diagnostics of DTE and primary for the causative factors identification in order to provide optimal and effective management plan for each patient.