Pre-eruptive coronal resorption of permanent teeth: report of three cases and their treatments.

Intracoronal radiolucencies in unerupted permanent teeth had been described previously as caries, carieslike lesions," and developmental in origin.More recent reports describe these lesions as resorption of the crown of unerupted permanent teeth' found as an incidental radiographic finding, rarely in more than one tooth in the same patient.-' These often go unnoticed until eruption and then are frequently approached as an aggressive carious lesion. The coronal dentin usually is resorbed. This lesion is reported mainly in first and second permanent molars.--~ Only one canine, three first premolars-and three second premolars have had pre-eruptive coronal resorption reported. Recommended treatment-has included surgical exposure and restoration of the teeth to avoid progression of the resorptive process, which may weaken the tooth irreversibly. Close observation until tooth eruption is another alternative. This report describes three cases of pre-eruptive coronal resorption and treatment approaches.