Tooth Eruption

Tooth eruption is the process by which a tooth moves from its site of development within the jaws to its final functional position in the oral cavity.

it is a continuous process

Phases of tooth eruption

Pre-eruptive phase

Pre-functional eruptive phase

Functional eruptive phase

Pre-eruptive phase

All movements of primary and permanent tooth germs (crowns)

from

time of their early initiation and formation to the time of crown completion

ends with early initiation of root formation

Pre-Eruptive Phase

Early in the stage, the permanent anterior teeth begin developing lingual to the incisal level of the primary teeth. Later, as the primary teeth erupt, the secondary teeth are positioned lingual to the apical third of their roots.

Permanent premolars shift from a location near the occlusal area of the primary molars to a location enclosed within the roots of the primary molars

Periapical

Permanent molars have no predecessors

Maxillary molars develop within the maxillary tuberosity with their occlusal surfaces slanted distally

Mandibular molars develop in the ramus with the occlusal surfaces slanting mesially

Pre-Functional Eruptive

Starts with the initiation of root formation and ends when the teeth reach occlusal contact

Four major events occur during this phase:1. Root formation2. Movement occurs incisally or occlusally

through the bony crept to reach the oral mucosa

3. Penetration of the tooth crown tip into the oral cavity

4. Intraoral movement occlusally and incisally until clinical contact with the opposing crown occurs.

The rate of tooth eruption depends on the phase of movement

Intraosseous phase: 1 to 10 μm/day

Extraosseous phase (soft tissue): 75 μm/day

Functional Eruptive Phase

Takes place after the teeth are functioning and continues as long as the teeth are present in the mouth

Post eruptive tooth movement

1. Movements to accommodate the growing jaws.

Mostly occurs between 14 and 18 years by formation of new bone at the alveolar crest alveolar crest and base of socket to keep pace with increasing height of jaws.

2. Movements to compensate for continued occlusal wear.

Compensation primarily occurs by continuous deposition of cementum around the apex of the tooth.

3. Movements to accommodate interproximal wear.

Compensated by mesial or approximal drift.

Mesial drift is the lateral bodily movement of teeth on both sides of the mouth.

Very important in orthodontics.

Space loss

Environmental factors affecting the final position of the tooth:

Muscular forces

Thumb-sucking

Tongue thrust Palatal crib

Mechanisms of Eruptive Tooth Movement

Root formation

Bone remodeling

Dental follicle

Periodontal ligament

Role of hydrostatic pressure

Root formation

Should be an obvious cause of tooth eruption. But studies have not provided evidence for this.

If a tooth that is continuously erupting is prevented the root still forms by causing bone resorption.

Rootless tooth still erupt, some teeth erupt more than the total length of the roots and the teeth still erupt after completion of root formation.

Therefore root formation is accommodated during eruption and may not be the cause of tooth eruption.

Root formation produces a force which causes bone resorption by osteoclast.

Root growth theory suggested the presence of the cushion hammock ligament at the base of the socket that transmits the force to cause eruption but the ligament was never found histologically

One point of importance is that, the tissue beneath the growing root resists the apical movement of the developing root.

This resistance results in the occlusal movement of the tooth crown as the root lengthens

Bone Remodeling

An inherent growth pattern of the maxilla and mandible supposedly moves teeth by selective deposition and resorption of bone

not sure if bone remodeling plays a significant role but is involved

Dental follicle

Investigators indicate a pattern of cellular activity involving the reduced enamel epithelium (REE) and the follicles associated with tooth eruption.

Studies have shown that the reduced dental epithelium initiates a cascade of intercellular signals that recruit osteoclasts to the follicle.

By providing a signal and chemo-attractant for osteoclasts, it is possible that the dental follicle can initiate bone remodeling which goes with tooth eruption.

RDE also secretes proteases, which assist in breakdown of connective tissue to produce a path of least resistance.

Periodontal ligament

Periodontal Ligament Traction theory Formation and renewal of the PDL has been considered a factor in tooth eruption because of the traction power of the fibroblasts.

Most accepted theory Due to contraction of the FB situated in the PDL, a pressure is created which favors eruption

Hydrostatic PressureA number of studies exist to demonstrate that there is a hydrostatic pressure difference between the tissue around the erupting crown and its apical extent

The hydrostatic theory was investigated by Hassel and McMinn (1972) who demonstrated that the tissue pressure apically was greater than occlusally theoretically generating an eruptive force.

No association was found between the rate of eruption and the pressure gradient.

Shedding of Primary Teeth

Shedding is the loss of the primary dentition caused by the physiologic resorption of the roots, the loss of the bony supporting structure and therefore the inability of these teeth to withstand the masticatory forces.

Resorption of anterior teeth occurs on the lingual surface and these teeth are shed with their pulp chamber intact

Resorption of primary molars occurs in interradicular dentine with some resorption of the pulp chamber, coronal dentine and sometimes enamel

Pattern of Shedding

Resorption of dental hard tissues is achieved by cells with a histological nature similar to that of osteoclasts called Odontoclasts

Pressure plays an important role in the exfoliation of primary teeth

Stem cells ????

Hormonal Control Mechanisms

Eruption occurs only during a critical period between 8pm and midnight or 1am.

During the morning, tooth eruption ceases or even the tooth intrudes a bit.

This reflects Circadian Rhythm reflecting the possible involvement and control of growth hormone and thyroid hormone.

Logan and Kronfeld’s chronology of human dentition (1933)

Eruption sequence

The time of eruption for primary and permanent teeth varies greatly.

A variation of 6 months on either side of the usual eruption date may be considered normal for a given child.

Girls eruption of their permanent teeth are 5 months earlier than the boys

Tooth eruption has three stages

1. Deciduous dentition

2. Mixed dentition

3. Permanent dentition

Primary dentitionstarts on the arrival of the mandibular central incisors, typically from around six months,

lasts until the first permanent molars appear in the mouth, usually at six years.

 The primary teeth typically erupt in the following order: (1) central incisor, (2) lateral incisor, (3) first molar, (4) canine, and (5) second molar

Mixed dentition

starts when the first permanent molar appears in the mouth, usually at five or six years,

lasts until the last primary tooth is lost, usually at ten, eleven, or twelve years.

Sequence of eruptionThe sequence of calcification is not a sure clue to the sequence of emergence in the mouth

Wide variability

Max ( 6-1-2-4-3-5-7/ 6-1-2-4-5-3-7 )

Mand ( 6-1-2-3-4-5-7/6-1-2-4-3-5-7 )

Most common sequence

Max ( 6-1-2-4-5-3-7 ) & Mand ( 6-1-2-3-4-5-7)

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Abnormal eruption sequence

The permanent dentition

begins when the last primary tooth is lost, usually at 11 to 12 years,

and lasts for the rest of a person's life or until all of the teeth are lost 

Infant occlusion

Upper anterior gum pad is wider than lower

Over jet= 5mm

Overbite= 0.5 mm

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Normal features of the primary dentition

Spaced anterior

Primate spaces

Shallow overbite and overjet1-2mm

Mesial step plane molar relationship

Almost vertical inclination of the ant teeth

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Primary dentition occlusion

Types of molar relationship1- Flush terminal plane:

distal surface of opposing E are at the same level

37% of primary molar relationship75% of them result in ideal class I

permanent molar relationship25% will shift to class II

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2- mesial step:

Distal surface of lower E mesial to distal of upper

49% of primary of molar relationship (most common)

mesial step will result in ideal class I molar relationship

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3- Distal step :

Distal surface of lower E distal to distal of upper

14% of primary molar relationship

Result in class II molar relationship

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Permanent dentition occlusion

Molar classification :Class I mesiobuccal cusp of upper 1st molar in buccal groove of lower 1st molar 55%Class II mesiobuccal cusp of upper 1st molar mesial to opposing one 19%Class III mesiobuccal cusp of upper 1st molar distal to opposing oneEnd-on relation ship : mesiobuccal cusp of both molars at the same level 25%

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Criteria for ideal occlusion:

Class I molar relationship

Over jet & overbite = 2 mm

Tight proximal contacts

Coincidental dental midlines

Flat occlusal plane

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