Lecture Description
The process of eruption in the human dentition is complex and poorly understood, but the impact on orthodontic treatment is evident. The past 2 decades have witnessed tremendous advances in molecular biology, but the clinical correlations remain elusive leaving some orthodontists and patients frustrated with clinical outcomes. This lecture will apply an evidence-based approach to understanding the advances in the management of eruption disorders. The gestalt of this diagnostic challenge is a poor understanding of definitive clinical diagnostic criteria to distinguish between different types of eruption disorders and differentiate them from ankylosis, and severe delayed eruption. We will consider the multitude of eruption disorders with a focus on primary failure of eruption (PFE; OMIM: 125350), delayed eruption, and ankylosis. Finally, we will explore biological and clinical determinants of malocclusion related to eruption disorders and establish best practices for diagnosis and management that maximizes patient satisfaction and doctor efficiency. After this lecture, attendees will be able to incorporate genetic diagnosis into clinical management; recognize biological limitations to treatment approaches, and devise and implement a diagnostic rubric to distinguish specific types of eruption disorders and subsequent malocclusions.
