Occult caries or pre-eruptive intracoronal resorption? A chance finding on a radiograph.

The purpose of this paper was to describe a rare case of idiopathic coronal resorption of an unerupted permanent mandibular second molar, which was detected as a chance finding on an orthopantomogram taken to assess dental eruption on a young patient about to start orthodontic treatment. The affected tooth was removed and underwent histopathological investigation. This case report provides a discussion of the possible etiologies for this radiographic appearance, as well as the diagnosis and management of such lesions. Failure to identify such lesions can potentiate a guarded prognosis. Further research is required in this field to investigate the etiology and pathological process, albeit this is limited by the rarity if these lesions.