Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of ectopic eruption of the maxillary first permanent molars in cleft patients. Panoramic radiographs of 70 Brazilian Caucasian children, 6 to 8 years old and with complete unilateral cleft lip and alveolus, were assessed. Fourteen of 70 patients (20%) presented with ectopic eruption of one or both maxillary first permanent molars. Sixteen of 19 ectopically erupted molars (85%) were of a reversible type of ectopic eruption and 3 (15%) were irreversible. No significant differences were found between sexes or between cleft sides.