Transmigration of mandibular cuspids: review of published reports and description of nine new cases

We have reviewed all documented cases of mandibular canine transmigration from1951 (when to our knowledge the first case was published) to 2015, and retrospectively evaluated nine further sequential cases of transmigrating mandibular canines in one hospital by analysing relevant data, including patients’ age and sex, presence of retained deciduous canines, radiographic changes, coexisting systemic diseases, and treatment. Transmigration of a mandibular canine is a rare anomaly of eruption, and extraction is the usual treatment. The nine new patients were aged from 16 -48 years, eight of the transmigrated canines were unilateral, and one patient had them bilaterally. They were all completely impacted. Four were retained primary teeth, and five exfoliated primary canines. Eight had no associated radiographic or clinical abnormalities, while one patient had an associated odontoma. Six mandibular canines were removed and three kept under observation. Early detection of transmigrated canines gives the opportunity to monitor their development, which may improve prognosis and treatment.