The effect of pulp inflammation and premature extraction of primary molars on the successor permanent teeth: A retrospective study

Background: Untreated caries on primary molars often leads to pulp inflammation and extraction. Aim: To retrospectively investigate the effect of pulp inflammation and extraction of primary molars on their successors regarding alignment in the dental arch and developmental enamel defects (DED). Design: The participants in this study were children at public schools in Petropolis (Brazil), who participated in a 3-year longitudinal clinical trial. Children (N = 44) were selected for the present study if they had at least one erupted premolar of which the predecessor primary molar presented pulp inflammation at baseline or during any of the 6-month follow-up assessments. All premolars were examined for DED and misalignment. Distinction was made between extraction performed before (E <8) or after the age of 8 years (E ≥8). Distinction was also made between pulp inflammation occurred before (P < 7) or after the age of 7 years (P ≥ 7). A logistic regression analysis was performed, and the odds ratio was calculated. Results and conclusions: Misalignment occurred more frequently in E <8 as compared to E ≥8 (OR = 2.85; P =.03). There was no significant difference in DED between P < 7 and P ≥ 7. Conclusion: Misalignment of premolars occurs more frequently when the predecessor primary molars are extracted before the age of 8 years.