Aesthetic management of non-syndromic secondarily retained permanent mandibular canine

Primary failure of eruption (PFE) is a rare eruption anomaly, incorporating two independent conditions-primary retention and secondary retention. Primary retention is a localised cessation of eruption before gingival emergence without any identifiable cause. Secondary retention is a localised cessation of eruption after gingival emergence with no identifiable cause. Early diagnosis and treatment planning of this condition are important to avoid orthodontic and prosthodontic complications. With this background, the present case of PFE affecting a single permanent mandibular canine in a girl, aged 15 years is presented. Sequential diagnosis, treatment planning and possible aetiologies are discussed.