Syndromes/Craniofacial Anomalies
Leva A. Sabet-Sharghi, DDS
Pediatric Dental Resident, PGY-2
Case Western Reserve University — UH Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, Cleveland, OH
Case Western Reserve University
Charleston , South Carolina, United States
Margaret Elaine Ferretti, DMD, MPH
Program Director
Case Western Reserve University
Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospitals, Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Gerald A. Ferretti, DDS, MS, MPH
Professor and Chair
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Monitoring a child’s growth and development through the sequencing of tooth exfoliation and eruption is an important component of pediatric dentistry. With that role comes the responsibility of being able to identify anomalous presentations, and when to take a multidisciplinary approach to correctly diagnose and manage accordingly. This case presentation involves the identification and diagnosis of a unique presentation of primary failure of eruption (PFE). PFE is a rare, non-syndromic condition involving the partial or complete non-eruption of teeth in the absence of mechanical obstruction. Both primary and permanent teeth can be involved, with the posterior dentition being most affected. This disturbed eruption pattern often results in a posterior open bite, with the affected teeth being untreatable from an orthodontic standpoint. This case will review the identification, diagnosis, and future treatment implications of a ten-year-old male presenting with primary failure of eruption of the entire posterior dentition.