The Incidence of Impacted Transmigrant Canines: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of transmigrant canines in a Turkish subpopulation. The incidences of impacted maxillary and mandibular canines were also determined. Methods: This retrospective study determined canine impaction and transmigration incidences by examining 12,000 panoramic radiographs and clinical records belonging to patients treated between January 2005 and December 2009 at the Department of Oral Diagnosis and Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey. The number and location of canine impactions and transmigrations, sex and age of the patients, presence of retained deciduous canines, and associated pathologies and dental anomalies were recorded. Results: This study found a 4.51% incidence of canine impaction. Among the 12,000 patients with panoramic radiographs, 13 (0.1%) had transmigrated canines, including 5 females (aged 17-46 years) and 8 males (aged 15-42 years). Only one transmigrated canine was maxillary, while 12 were mandibular. All transmigrated canines were unilateral and impacted. Ten canines migrated from the right to the left side, and three migrated from the left to the right. Conclusion: Radiographic examination is necessary to diagnose impacted transmigrant canines, among other anomalies. © Japanese Society for Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology and Springer 2010.