Management of "hidden caries": a case of severe pre-eruptive intracoronal resorption

Pre-eruptive intracoronal resorption (PEIR) appears as a radiolucent lesion in the coronal dentine, adjacent to the dentin-enamel junction of unerupted teeth. Although PEIR resembles dental caries on radiographs, there is little evidence to support that hypothesis. The prevalence of this lesion varies from 1.55% to 6% depending on the type and quality of the radiographic exposure and age of patients. This case study describes a post-eruptive diagnosis of intracoronal resorption with unusually extensive destruction of dentine involving pulp. It emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis of this resorptive process through radiographs to minimize its potentially destructive capacity.