Abstracts Health Sciences

Primary failure of eruption: further characterization of a rare eruption disorder

by Karen E. Koehler

Primary failure of eruption (PFE) is a rare condition that leads to spectacular posterior open bites and does not respond to orthodontic treatment. Records from 97 patients with posterior open bite were analyzed. Based on key characteristics, subjects were classified as having PFE, indeterminate failure of eruption (IFE), and mechanical failure of eruption (MFE). Results showed that PFE affects mostly posterior teeth, affects all teeth distal to the first affected tooth, often presents with a cleared eruption path that the tooth fails to follow, and appears to have two forms. Type I exhibits a similar lack of eruption potential of affected teeth, and Type II has a varied eruption potential. This study also supports the genetic etiology of PFE which is likely due to a defect in a tooth-specific gene product. Differentiation between PFE and ankylosis is key to determining prognosis for orthodontic treatment and requires adequate longitudinal data.