Effect of pulpotomies on eruption of succedaneous premolars

The effect of a formocresol pulpotomy of a primary tooth on the eruption pattern of the succedaneous tooth is an important consideration for long-range treatment planning. This retrospective study evaluated the eruption pattern of permanent teeth using serial radiographs of children in whom a primary molar was treated. The contralateral teeth served as controls. Twenty-seven children (14 boys and 13 girls) underwent a unilateral pulpotomy of a primary molar. In three cases, the contralateral tooth erupted earlier than the succedaneous tooth; in nine cases, both teeth erupted at approximately the same time; and in 15 cases, the succedaneous tooth erupted before the antimere. Dif ferences among the groups were statistically significant