What is the goal of preeruptive tooth movement?

• A. Move roots apically
• B. Align crowns
• C. Place the teeth in the correct occlusal plane and ready for eruptive movements
• D. Increase tooth length

Answer: (C)

The idea behind preeruptive tooth movement is to position the developing teeth inside the jaw so that, when eruption begins, they come up into the mouth in the right orientation. By placing the crowns in the proper position relative to the occlusal plane and neighboring teeth, the eruptive path can proceed smoothly, leading to correct alignment once the tooth fully erupts.

This focus isn’t about moving the roots or lengthening the tooth. Root movement starts more with eruption and later stages, and the tooth’s length is determined by its development, not by preeruptive repositioning. The key goal is aligning the developing crown so eruption places it in the proper occlusal relationship.