What Are Symptoms of the Eruption of 12-Year Molars?

According to Dr. Max of The Tooth Truth, symptoms of 12-year molar eruption are similar to those of primary teeth eruption and include pain, swelling and inflammation of gum tissue at the site of eruption. Ectopic eruptions are a less common but more serious problem afflicting a small percentage of children developing 12-year molars.

Carla Cohn of Oral Health Group reports different literature placing the frequency of ectopically erupted molars at between 0.75 percent to 6 percent of the population. The frequency is 25 percent for children with cleft lips. Children whose siblings have suffered from the condition are five times more likely to get ectopically erupted molars. According to Cohn, some signs of ectopic eruptions include asymmetric development, secondary molars growing at the wrong angles and prematurely loose primary molars.

There are different ways of dealing with the symptoms. According to Dr. Max, pain and inflammation can be treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen. The eruption site should be kept clean, and foods that can fragment, such as nuts and popcorn, should be avoided. Infected eruption sites are treated with antibiotics. Patients with ectopically erupted 12-year molars need to see a dentist. Depending on the severity of the condition, ectopic eruptions are treated with separators, surgery or by extraction of affected teeth, says Cohn.