Abstract
Ectopic eruption of the maxillary first permanent molar is one of the abnormalities sometimes encountered in clinical pediatric dentistry. In some cases, treatments are finished by a very local approach, but in other cases are finished by a comprehensive approach under the long-term perspective.The basic treatment is distal movement of the maxillary first permanent molar locked by the maxillary second deciduous molar. But even if this treatment is successful in treating the early stages, the following problems may occur ; the second deciduous molar may fall out, retention of the maxillary first permanent molar may be necessary, or some maxillary second premolars may erupt from the lingual side. Moreover, more attentive care should also be paid to the second molar's biting relationship. Whenever a problem happens in the process of the treatment, it is very difficult for parents and guardians to imagine the treatment goal. A flow chart is designed as a tool for understanding this abnormality. This flow chart becomes our medical guideline. It is also available for parents and guardians to understand the treatment process correctly.In this article, the flow chart is introduced and five typical cases treated along the flow chart are presented. Furthermore, we report consideration from the literatures about ectopic eruption of the maxillary first permanent molar.
