Unerupted canines

Question 1

When is a tooth considered ‘unerupted’ and needs investigation?

Answer 1

If a tooth has failed to erupt 1 year after the normal eruption time

Question 2

What teeth are most commonly congenitally absent?

Answer 2

2s, 4s and 8s

Question 3

What is cleidocranial dysplasia?

Answer 3

A condition that primarily affects development of bones and teeth.

Question 4

What are the most common unerupted teeth?

Answer 4

3s, 5s and 8s

Question 5

What does SLOB stand for?

Answer 5

Same Lingual Opposite Buccal

Question 6

What is parallax?

Answer 6

The apparent displacement of an object due to different positions of the observer

Question 7

If patients have retained deciduous teeth, what should they be warned about?

Answer 7

Patients should be warned that deciduous teeth have poor long-term prognosis

Question 8

Give 5 risks of surgically removing unerupted maxillary canines:

Answer 8

1. Damage to adjacent teeth/roots
2. Postop. mobility of adjacent teeth - particularly laterals
3. Bleeding
4. Swelling
5. Injection

Question 9

What is ankylosis?

Answer 9

Ankylosis = when roots of teeth are anchored to the alveolar bone