Prevalence of Pre-eruptive Intracoronal Resorption in Yemeni Children and Adolescents: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Early detection of pre-eruptive intracoronal resorption/radiolucency(PEIR) helps in early management and treatment before and during tooth eruption. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of PEIR and coexisting dental factors using archived digitalized panoramic radiographs of unerupted permanent teeth in Yemeni children and adolescents. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study of 4927 unerupted teeth from 487 archived digitalized panoramic radiographs (males 243 and females 244) of children aged 6–15 years old were examined to assess the presence of PEIR. The prevalence of PEIR and associated factors as ectopic position, supernumerary teeth or fused teeth, hyperdontia or hypodontia, impaction, dense in dente, and taurodontism, the presence of dental caries, root canal treatment, restoration and/or periapical infection in the predecessor primary teeth were checked by two independent calibrated examiners. Results: After examination, 14 /4927 teeth and 14/487 patients had PEIR defects, which accounted for 2.9% of overall subject prevalence and 0.28% of overall tooth prevalence. A statistically significant difference was noted in PEIR defects with regard to age, dental arch type, arch side, and dentation stage. The second premolar was the most affected tooth in the maxillary and mandibular arches. Most lesions were located in less than 1/3 of the dentin thickness(50%). Most of the lesions were located on the mesial aspect of the crown(35.7%). The ectopic position was the most coexisting factor with PEIR(41.18%). Conclusion: Although PEIR is one of the detected lesions in the unerupted teeth of Yemeni children and adolescents with low prevalence, its early detection helps dentists to be aware of this hidden lesion and allows them to have an early treatment plan with few complications.