Prevalence and Severity of Ectopic Eruption of First Permanent Molars in Pediatric Patients in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

Background Early detection and management of ectopic eruption (EE) of first permanent molars (FPMs) are crucial to avoid complicated treatments later. Aim This study aimed to assess the prevalence and severity of EE of FPMs among children in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Methods This retrospective study was based on a radiographic evaluation of 1,008 dental panoramic radiographs performed for children attending the Dental Educational Hospital at Umm Al-Qura University and the Security Forces Hospital in Makkah. Patients' age, sex, tooth location, and severity of EE were assessed. The study adhered to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guideline for cross-sectional studies.  Results Of the 1,008 reviewed cases, 18 (1.79%) were diagnosed with EE of FPMs. Among the 11 male patients, 81.82% showed severe EE, while 57.14% exhibited moderately severe EE among the seven female patients. The prevalences of EE in the maxilla and mandible were 1.59% and 0.20%, respectively. In contrast, the occurrence of EE of FPMs was similar between the right and left sides. Conclusion In this study, the prevalence of EE of FPMs among children in Makkah was 1.79%. The frequency and severity were both greater in male patients compared to female patients. While significantly more EE of FPMs was observed in the maxilla than in the mandible, there was no significant difference between the right and left sides.