Which of the following is a common sign of eruption disturbances?

• A. Perfect alignment without crowding.
• B. Delayed eruption.
• C. Tooth color change.
• D. Accelerated eruption.

Answer: (B)

Delayed eruption is a hallmark of eruption disturbances. When a tooth takes longer than normal to emerge into the mouth, it signals that the eruptive process—driven by eruptive forces and the resorption and clearance of the eruption path—is being impeded. Causes include crowding from insufficient space, obstructions like supernumerary or impacted teeth, ankylosis, or systemic factors that slow eruption. The other options describe normal eruption or changes not tied to timing: a perfectly aligned dentition with no crowding shows normal eruption, tooth color changes aren’t tied to eruption timing, and accelerated eruption is not a common sign of eruption disturbance.